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AMERICAN FOOTBALL 




CHARLES D. DALY 



AMERICAN 
FOOTBALL 

By 
CHARLES D. DALY 

F. A., U. S. A. 



With Many Diagrams by the Author 

And Portraits of Prominent 

Players and Coaches 




Harper 6f Brothers Publishers 
New York and London 






SEP -■-■"iJi"! 



American Football 



Copyright, 1921, by Harper & Brothera 

Printed in the United States of America 

c-v 



0C1.A624181 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGB 

Introduction ix 

I. Organization — Condition and Training • i 

II. Fundamentals 15 

III. The Offense 30 

IV. The Defense 59 

V. Position Play 71 

VI. Drill 100 

VII. The Kicking Game 118 

VIII. The Forward Pass and Its Use .... 132 

IX. Generalship and Quarterback Play . . 146 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Charles D. Daly Frontispiece 

F, Gordon Brown, Guard, Yale . . . Facing p. 12 

E. H. Coy, Fullback, Yale ** 12 

T. L. Shevlin, End, Yale ** 12 

W. W. Heffelfinger, Guard, Yale . . ** 26 
Charles Brickley, Fullback, Harvard . '* 50 
Edward Mahan, Halfback, Harvard . . " 70 
Frank A. Hinkey, End, Yale .... '* 102 
John J. McEwen, Center, Army ... ** 134^ 
Prominent Coaches — Alonzo A. Stagg, 
University of Chicago; Col. Ernest 
Graves, Army; Walter Camp, "Father 
OF American Football"; Fielding H. 
("Hurry Up") Yost, University of 
Michigan; Percy D. Haughton, Har- 
vard University *' 150 



INTRODUCTION 

The author of this book desires to present 
a treatise on the game of football, primarily 
for the benefit of football coaches, football 
players, and the football public. The ma- 
terial is presented in a popular form, except 
in a few chapters where it has been necessary 
to limit the discussion to the technical side 
of the subject. 

In general the author has tried to estab- 
lish certain basic principles that govern the 
game and has laid down what may appear to 
be hard-and-fast rules for training and play- 
ing. But though he realizes that rules are 
largely a matter of individual opinion, he 
feels safe in saying that the principles which 
he has stated are sound as a result of their 
having been tried and proved during many 
years of successful application by some of the 
best coaches in the country. 

Although the author treats his subject 
from the standpoint of the large college team 
with a squad of fifty or more men, and with 



INTRODUCTION 

one or two important contests at the end of 
the season toward which practically the en- 
tire effort of the team is directed, the prin- 
ciples and rules that apply on a large scale 
to the large-college team apply equally on a 
small scale to the little college, preparatory 
school, and even high school. 

Therefore, the author hopes that American 
Football will serve as a reliable guide for all 
who want to know the principles of the game, 
but more particularly for the coaches and 
captains, upon whose knowledge of the game 
depends largely the success of their teams. 
The author desires to make grateful acknowl- 
edgment for certain material used in con- 
nection with this book to Colonel Graves, 
Colonel Thompson and Major Pritchard, 
U. S. A. He feels particularly indebted to 
Colonel Graves. 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



FOOTBALL AXIOMS 

1. FOOTBALL IS A BATTLE, GO OUT TO FIGHT 

AND KEEP IT UP ALL THE AFTERNOON. 

2. A MAN*S VALUE TO HIS TEAM VARIES IN~- 

VERSELY AS HIS DISTANCE FROM THE 
BALL. 

3. IF THE LINE GOES FORWARD THE TEAM 

WINS, IF THE LINE COMES BACKWARD 
THE TEAM LOSES. 

GAME AXIOMS 

1. MAKE AND PLAY FOR THE BREAKS. WHEN 

ONE COMES YOUR WAY, SCORE. 

2. IF THE GAME OR A BREAK GOES AGAINST 

YOU, DON*T LIE DOWN! PUT ON MORE 
STEAM. 

3. don't SAVE YOURSELF. GO THE LIMIT. 

THERE ARE GOOD MEN ON THE SIDE 
LINE, WHEN YOU ARE EXHAUSTED. 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

I 

ORGANIZATION— CONDITION AND TRAINING 

AREMARKA.BLE similarity exists be- 
tween war and football. This is par- 
ticularly manifest in their organization. In 
both war and football we have the staff and 
the troops. In both we have the supply 
department, medical branch, and the instruc- 
tion branch. In both, the importance of 
leadership is paramount. The principles of 
war laid down by Clausevitz are the princi- 
ples of the application of force. Just so in 
football, we have exactly analogous principles 
of the application of force and a similar or- 
ganization. 

There are five elements that enter into the 
organization of a football team: first, the 
material; second, the coach; third, the as- 



2 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

sistant coaches; fourth, the captain; fifth, 
the trainer and the doctor. 

The Material 

If the material at the start is to be without 
defect there must be the following : 

1. Powerful and fast line material. 

2. An experienced player available for quarterback. 

3. Speedy, rugged, back-field men. 

4. A reliable kicker who can get good distance. 

5. Sure catchers for the back-field. 

6. A back and a kicker, both of whom can pass. 

7. Speedy ends who are sure tacklers and who can 

catch passes. 

Unless the material has players capable of 
fulfilling these requisites, and good substi- 
tutes to take their place, the material is weak. 

The above statement covers the ideal case. 
Ordinarily a coach is not fortunate enough to 
be blessed with such rounded-out material. 
If he is, victory will ordinarily perch upon 
his banner. In the ordinary case there are 
generally one or two weaknesses in the ma- 
terial which must be adjusted by skillful 
coaching. 

It is the business of the coach to determine 
these weaknesses in both his own squad and 
in the enemy squad. His scheme of play 



ORGANIZATION 

Two Successful Offensive Distributions 

o o 
oooo#oo 



Normal attack developed into eight men on line of acrimmage 
using direct pass. 

O 

o 

o o 

o ooo#oo 



Cbncentration for a direct pTunge with dispersion for passing. 
A freak formation. 



4 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

should then be so designed as to minimize his 
own weaknesses and still take advantage of 
those of the opponents. Play to the other 
team's weakness is one of the basic principles 
of both football and war. 

The Coach 

The head coach supervises the organization 
and its work. He takes charge of the first 
eleven when it assembles for dummy scrim- 
mage or signals. 

He is responsible for the organization, 
schedule, equipment, officials, and all other 
matters incident to the team's progress, not 
specifically in the hands of parts of the organi- 
zation. The manager and his assistants are 
the supply officers of the head coach. 

However, the most important duty of the 
coach is to put character into both the team 
and the squad. He should not only promote 
and secure harmony in all the elements of the 
organization, but at midseason, when ''drive " 
and *' fight '' are the watchwords, it is the head 
coach who should secure that savage drive 
and desperate fight which are essential to 
victory. 

Above all, the head coach is responsible for 
the spirit and morale of the team. He should 



ORGANIZATION 5 

so co-ordinate the effort of the parts of the 
organization that, as a result, there should be 
produced for the final contest a band of cru- 
saders with nothing in their hearts but vic- 
tory and with the unshakable determination 
to have that victory at all costs. 

The Assistant Coaches 

Five assistant coaches are necessary. Daily 
attendance from the first day*s practice is 
imperative. More than seven assistants are 
bad. A large number of coaches produces 
an underdeveloped, characterless team. The 
coaches should be: one end coach, two line 
coaches, one back-field coach, one second- 
eleven coach. The position coaches make the 
team, by their work in position and group 
drill. The success of the team or its failure 
is mainly theirs. 

The limit on the number of coaches pre- 
scribed above is not meant to rule out special 
coaches for particular performances. It is 
always advisable to secure a good instructor, 
if available, for work on the specialties, such 
as drop kicking, goal kicking, and passing. 

Too much credit cannot be given to the 
position of assistant coaches for the success of 
the team. The individual excellence of each 



6 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

player arises from the work of the position 
coach. It is this individual excellence that 
spells victory, and the coach should have the 
credit for it. 

The Captain 
A good captain accomplishes the following: 

1. He plays his own position excellently in the final 

game. This is his first duty. All others are 
secondary. 

2. He keeps the squad cheerful and in harmony with 

the coaches. 

3. He advises the coaches of opinions or sentiments 

on the team at variance with their ideas. 

4. He checks all decisions by the officials and claims 

his rights. He should know the rules thor- 
oughly. Many slip-ups can happen due to the 
failure of the captain to secure his advantages 
under the rules. It is advisable, therefore, to 
detail another player who is well versed in and 
quick to appreciate the application of the rules 
to check the captain throughout a contest and 
to advise him, when necessary, of his rights. In 
other words, two heads are better than one. 

5. He encourages the team in games when necessary. 

The captain should, however, be careful not to 
talk too much. A youngster chattering to his 
fellows all the time is an irritating influence, and 
a good captain should talk only when necessary 
and then in a manner which will appeal to his 
comrades. 



ORGANIZATION 7 

Many captains have made the mistake of 
thinking that they were administrators in- 
stead of players. No more fatal error could 
be made. If the captain does nothing more 
than play his position well he is generally a 
success. If he attempts to do much else he 
is generally a failure. Quite often the worry 
of the captaincy requires the player to lay 
off considerably in order that he may be 
able to play his own position well. If he 
plays it exceedingly well, leadership will fall 
to him naturally. Nothing can make up for 
the failure of the captain to play his own po- 
sition as well as his comrades are playing 
theirs. 

The Trainer and the Doctor 

The trainer and the doctor are responsible 
for the physical condition of the players. 
The doctor is directly responsible for all the 
injured. The trainer must see that the re- 
serve energy of the players is never ex- 
hausted. He must also make sure that the 
prescribed treatment for injuries is carried 
out. He keeps the head coach informed as 
to the equipment of the players and super- 
vises the fitting and use of pads and guards. 

Mike Murphy, in an article on training a 



8 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

football team, placed his finger on the crux 
of the matter. In substance, he said that 
players must be so trained that they will 
enter a contest eager to play and eager to 
make a touchdown. They must be, so to 
speak, tugging at the leash. Unless this 
strong desire to play and to win is present, 
there is something the matter with the 
physical or mental condition of the player. 

Condition and Training 

Organized practice each day rarely can 
consume more than two and one-half hours. 
There are ten weeks in the regular football 
season. Games are played on Saturdays, 
leaving five days per week for practice — 
that is, 5 X ID X 2^ hours, or 125 hours. 
Therefore, it is true that the preparation of 
a team for its final contest is a race against 
time. 

The time of preparation is even more 
limited than stated above. Players over- 
train easily and often the regular practice 
must be shortened. From time to time it 
is, of course, necessary to withdraw certain 
players from practice in order to rest them. 
Physical condition is paramount. Coaching 
is secondary. 



ORGANIZATION 9 

The following principles are standard in, the 
training and development of a team : 

1. Always underwork the players, individually and 

collectively. 

2. Place no stress in the first half of the year on 

that character of fight which leads to the rapid 
exhaustion of nervous energy. 

3. At midseason drive the team, individually and 

collectively, for at least one week. The fighting 
spirit here is paramount. 

4. At least two and often three weeks from the final 

game, the team must be handled solely with the 
idea of perfecting what they already know and 
conserving their reserve vitality. 

5. The result of good training is a mental attitude 

of eagerness for the entire afternoon's play, 
with muscles and sinew capable of sustaining 
the fight at high pressure. 

Coaches always tend to overwork a player. 
They are inclined to drill a man (or a team) 
until the man draws on his reserve energy to 
sustain him. This is a great mistake. Drill 
should never draw on anything except the 
excess and ordinary energy of the player. 
The reserve energy must always be carefully 
guarded. It is used only in the final game. 
Its exhaustion at any other time results in 
overtraining. Recuperation takes not less 
than three weeks of almost entire rest. The 



10 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

guarding of the reserve energy of the in- 
dividual players is the most important duty 
of the trainer. 

The trainer should make a careful note of 
each player's physical and nervous qualities. 
He should keep a book showing the weights 
from day to day before or after practice, or 
both. He should carefully note the amount 
of work each man can stand without undue 
effort, the quickness of his recuperation, and 
the amount and kind of food he eats. Above 
all, it is his business to step in and advise the 
coach when a player should cease work. On 
this expert advice a good trainer defers to 
no one. 

A good trainer keeps constantly in touch 
with the doctor who has charge of the in- 
juries. He should seek his advice on matters 
of condition, as well as being entirely guided 
by him with respect to the injuries. 

The doctor is responsible for the care and 
treatment of all injuries. In the caring for in- 
juries the trainer works under his supervision. 

Scrimmage should not be held if the doctor 
is absent. This rule is a vital one in safe- 
guarding the best interests of the players and 
the sport. 

Football injuries are characteristic. In 



ORGANIZATION n 

order to be competent to decide how soon cer- 
tain injuries may be subjected to the strain of 
scrimmage, previous experience on the part 
of both doctor and trainer is necessary. 

Equipment 

All clothing and equipment should not 
weigh over eight pounds when dry. 

Shoulder pads should cover the collar 
bone and be sprung over the point of the 
shoulder. They should be under the jersey. 

Headguards should not be too large and 
should resemble a helmet rather than a cap. 

A piece of light leather should re-enforce 
the jersey at the elbow joint. 

The hands or wrists of line men should be 
taped. 

The point and edge of each hip joint and 
the small of the back should be covered with 
a light felt pad about one half inch thick. 
This pad is sometimes re-enforced with 
leather. 

The knee joint should be covered with a 
felt cover fastened below the knee or sewed 
into the trousers. 

The thigh should be covered with a rigid 
guard sprung off the muscles of the leg. 

Ankle supports should always be worn. 



12 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

Shoes should be light in weight, close fit- 
ting, and flexible. 

No player should be allowed to scrimmage 
who is not properly protected as stated above. 

Whenever a man is injured, so that it is 
questionable as to his capacity to protect 
himself, due to being stunned, loss of speed, 
turning ability, or other causes, he should be 
instantly removed from the scrimmage. 
Always err on the conservative side. 

Certain injuries are typical and charac- 
teristic of the game. 

1. Tackle shoulder: Injury to the cartilage covering 

'the point of the shoulder, due to a sharp blow. 
Player unable to raise elbow above shoulder. 
Not less than two weeks of absolute quiet for 
the shoulder required. When play is resumed 
a brace should be sprung over the injury, 
resting on chest and shoulder blade. 

2. Bruised thigh muscle, "charley horse,^' *^a poop." 

Will last, if properly treated, not longer than 
three weeks. Never massage. Bake, hot water, 
tape, and absolute rest. 

3. Wrenched knee. Bake, hot water, and tape. A 

brace may be worn in practice. Where silio- 
vitis may prove chronic, the player should give 
up football. Rest essential. 

4. Blow on head. Recognized by small pupils of 

eyes, wabbly walk, or inability to multiply 
quickly. Should be removed from scrimmage 




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ORGANIZATION 13 

instantly and turned over to doctor, and should 
not play again that day. 

5. Bruise on point or edge of hip bone. Hot appli- 

cations, tape, and rest. Should not be trouble- 
some, if properly treated, after two weeks. 

6. Sprained ankle. Bake, hot water, tape, and abso- 

lute rest for very short while; then mild use. 

The above remarks on ordinary football in- 
juries are in no way meant to take the place 
of the medical advice which should always be 
present. 

Schedule 

It is better to have too hard than too weak 
a schedule. The teams played should de- 
mand the maximum effort without drawing 
on the reserve energy. Fifty per cent of 
them should be such that they could be held 
in check by the substitutes. However, as 
intimated, no more insidious element in de- 
velopment can exist than that of a weak 
schedule. 

It is well to play two teams unusually 
strong on the forward pass. 

Scouts should follow the work of all the 
teams played that appear dangerous. Re- 
ports should be submitted from the beginning 
of the year. 



14 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

The work of the team against an opponent 
with a strong kicking game should be care- 
fully studied. 

The last word on every item of condition 
and training is: Never exhaust the reserve 
vitality of the players; always keep them eager 
for a whole afternoon's battle. 



II 

FUNDAMENTALS 

THE game of football is based on three 
underlying fundamentals: tackling, in- 
terference, and following the ball. These are 
called basic because the entire success of the 
attack and defense depends on their skillful 
execution by each and every man on the field. 

Interference 

Advancing the ball by rushes is based on 
the rule allowing interference in advance of 
the runner. Offensive line work is really a 
study in interference and is considered under 
Position Play. 

When the runner passes through the line 
of scrimmage, or skirts it on a sweeping run, 
or by any other means is running in the open, 
open-field interference becomes of the highest 
importance. This interference should be a 
matter of drill. 

There are several ways of interfering : No. 



i6 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

I or 2 back, when covering the runner on a 
skin tackle play, may interfere and block the 
opposing end or halfback by advancing to 
him, and then, with wide steps and arms close 
to body, going forward and covering him. 
When the shock of contact is not great this 
may be called '* covering interference." On 
an end run the backs often find it advisable 
to lunge with their shoulder at the opposing 
end or back, sometimes actually leaving the 
ground on a diving interference. This has 
the disadvantage of compelling the inter- 
ferer to surrender control of his body. This 
may be called *' diving interference." A 
skillful interferer often may jump at an op- 
ponent, sustaining the shock on his arms and 
still keeping his feet. This is a particularly 
effective form of open-field interference. 
This is *'high interference." ''Diving inter- 
ference" is, of course, low. Another kind of 
open-field interference, which may at times 
be used on an end run, is where the interferer 
dives slightly to one side of the tackier and 
swings his legs across the legs of the tackier. 
This is effective for open-field work where 
the tackier is not close to the runner. 

These various forms of interference should 
be drilled at least three days a week. The 



FUNDAMENTALS 17 

basic nature of this work should be carefully 
explained to the team. Although the matter 
of drill is important, the player should have 
it impressed upon him that, irrespective of 

O-^^ J 

Two methods of attacking an qwl 






Backs hold their feet 
and "^issor" the end 



form or coaching, when it is his place to in- 
terfere, he must take the man out, skillfully 
if possible— if not skillfully, by any other 
method. The result must be obtained. The 
tackier must be eliminated. 

Tackling 

Good tackling is the result of daily trips 

to the tackling dummy — Mondays excepted, 

possibly. The men should be taught to 

throw their body across the dummy, chest 

against the thighs, head well beyond the off 
2 



i8 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

leg, eyes opeUy arms and hands extended 
wide and gripping. Great stress should be 
laid in striking with the arms and holding on 
with the hands. A good handgrip is often 
the saving grace of a tackle. Good tackling 
is always low. However, if the situation is 
such that the tackier cannot get low or will 
not get the runner by going low, let him 
tackle any way he can. Knock him down 
with the shoulder, tackle him high with the 
hands or arms, but at all costs bring the 
runner down. The result must be obtained. 
The runner must be brought down. 

The use of the hands and arms in getting 
by interference, in order to get at the runner, 
is almost a fundamental of good tackling. A 
good tackier is built with his hands and 
arms ready to extend in front of him and 
ready to strike his way by interference. 

The judging of the speed of a runner is 
another essential of good tackling. The 
tackier should be paired off with another 
player and together they should drill in run- 
ning down each other. All the practice of 
straight-arm work, change of pace, and dodg- 
ing can be obtained in this drill by the runner. 
The tackier makes every movement except 
the actual lunge. The actual tackle should 



FUNDAMENTALS 19 

not be made. Actual tackling is best done 
at the dummy and in scrimmage. 

Following the Ball 

Following the ball is one of the attributes 
of all good players. Without it the best of 
teams will lose. With it, teams 50 per cent 
weaker will stand off their opponents. Eleven 
men following the ball every minute of the 
play means victory. It has been said that a 
man's value to his team varies inversely as his 
distance from the ball, and no saying was ever 
more true. Close following of the ball means 
that every man on the team follows the ball 
and never loses sight of it, whether his own 
team or that of the opponents has it. This 
is one of the keys to success in football. 

Following the ball is best coached by harp- 
ing on it throughout the season and making 
each individual player responsible on any 
long run, no matter whether the team be on 
the offense or defense. It may be drilled in a 
minor way by having two men practice pass- 
ing on the run to one another, while two 
others attempt to intercept and spoil the 
pass. This passing drill is called '* Passing 
and following the ball/' It is possible that 
other drills may be devised. 



20 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

The above are the essential fundamentals 
of the game of football. The minor funda- 
mentals are : 

1. All forms of kicking — punt, drop, placement, 

field goals, 
(a) Catching punts. 

2. Carrying the ball. 

3. Dodging. 

4. Falling on the ball. 

5. Charging by line men. 

6. Use of hands by line men. 

Kicking and Catching 

The various kinds of kicking and catching 
are so important that they are considered 
under a separate section. It need be said here 
only that all kinds of kicking and catching 
should be practiced a short time every day 
before practice. '* Before practice" is speci- 
fied because it is at that time that the atten- 
tion of the players is keenest. After practice 
is undesirable because the player is liable to 
catch cold or to lessen his vitality for the 
week by too long practice. 

Carrying the Ball 

All the players should know how to '*fix" 
the ball. It should be grasped between the 
wrist and the elbow, and held tight and close 



FUNDAMENTALS 21 

to the body. One point should be covered 
with the palm of the hand, the other point 
with the crook of the elbow. Players should 
be cautioned against swinging the arm and 
carrying the ball loosely. When running, the 
ball should never be changed, on ordinary 
plays, from one arm to the other. At times 
an old, skillful player can slip the ball from 
one arm to the other when running free in 
the open, but this is a practice which should 
be discouraged. The ball, on wide slants and 
wide runs, should be carried in the arm 
farthest from the scrimmage line, thus per- 
mitting the free use of the arm nearest the 
opponent. On close slants and plunges, the 
ball should be placed by the quarter firmly on 
the belly of the back receiving it. One of the 
back's hands should cover the upper part of 
the ball, the other the lower half, with the 
quarter's hand in between. The long axis of 
the ball should be parallel with the ground. 
Receiving and fixing the ball is an essential 
drill of back-field work and a matter that 
must be watched the entire season. It is the 
answer to all the fumbling in scrimmage 
work. Some backs will be found, at times, 
who seem to be unable to receive or fix the 
ball and hit the line at the same time. Such 



22 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



backs are natural fumblers and are not avail- 
able material. 

It should be stated that a back hitting the 
line should not hurry to fix the ball at the 

Revering the field in opeo field nmnia^ 




expense of his eifort to go forward. He may 
and should carry it covered with both forearms 
until the opportunity for fixing it is at hand. 

Dodging 

All the members of the team should prac- 
tice dodging in the early season. The con- 
verse is also true — that is, that the entire 
squad should practice pocketing a dodging 
runner and negotiating his straight arm. 

The backs should practice a few dodges 
every day. This work should be of two 



FUNDAMENTALS 23 

kinds: close dodging and open-field work 
where the back ** reverses the field.'* Close 
dodging may be practiced by making the 
backs in turn run in and out among a line of 
their fellows or by setting one man with the 
ball to dodging around among three tacklers 
close to him. Reversing the field consists in 
making the tacklers run full speed toward 
the runner, who watches his opportunity and 
by a sharp change of direction drives through 
a space in the oncoming field of tacklers, who 
must reverse their direction to cross again 
the path of the runner. The best open-field 
runners have used this method considerably. 
It consists in running for the open on a 
straight line at full speed and then sharply 
reversing the field by cutting directly across 
the line of oncoming tacklers. Often the 
back, after crossing the line of tacklers, will 
find himself in the open field with nobody 
near him. This idea should be carefully ex- 
plained to the backs and it should be prac- 
ticed as best it may be. 

Falling on Ball 

Falling on the ball is dangerous and should 
be practiced with great care and only at in- 
tervals. Line men should never be required 



24 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

to run after the ball and throw their bodies 
on it. The result of such work has always 
been injurious to shoulder, elbow, hip, and 
knee. There is very little advantage to line 
men in falling on the balL When they do 
practice it, the ball should be placed five or 
six feet in front of them or rolled gently 
along the ground on its side. The line men, as 
also the backs, should be cautioned not to in- 
jure themselves, and nobody with an injury 
^ should be allowed to fall on the ball. Backs 
should fall on the ball gently about three days 
a week in the beginning of the year to harden 
themselves by the shock of hitting the ground. 
In midseason this work should be reduced, but 
not altogether eliminated. 

The player falling on the ball should throw 
and drop his body in front of and across its 
path, surrounding the ball with his arms and 
legs. He should not attempt to roll over 
and come up on his feet. 

The last word on falling on the ball is that 
it is dangerous work and should command 
the care and watchfulness of the head coach. 

Charging by Line Men 

Although an instantaneous start is not 
all-important to a back, it is all-important 



FUNDAMENTALS 25 

to a line man, particularly offensive line men. 
The ability of an offensive line man to start 
sharply and powerfully from a strong stance 
to a hard charge, which is properly followed 
up by his feet with short steps, marks the 
critical point of the rushing attack. 

If the team has a starting signal, the charge 
and the signal should be practiced con- 
stantly for the various plays, against a 
dummy defense. If the team starts with the 
ball, the drill becomes even more important. 

A detailed discussion of this, and charging, 
is made under Position Play. It will suffice 
to say here that the offensive line should be 
practiced daily in getting off with the ball 
or the signal in order to get the jump on their 
opponents. It is the key to the success of 
the rushing attack, and too much time or 
care cannot be spent on it. Every detail of 
the stance of the player should be given the 
most careful consideration. 

The positions of the feet, arms, elbows, 
and hands require careful study in each in- 
dividual case. Slight modifications of stance 
for different players are often necessary. 
But the result should be the same, so far as 
getting the jump on the opponents and carry- 
ing through the charge is concerned. 



26 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

This point should be made in regard to 
Une position. The weight of the player 
should be carried on his legs. A hand may 
sometimes be used with which to balance the 
body, but it is of the highest importance 
that the line man play the game on his legs. 

Line play is a combination of fighting and 
wrestling. The position of a wrestler about 
to begin a bout is almost identical with the 
stance of a line man, except that it is higher. 
The position of a fighter mixing it up in 
close work with his opponent is also almost 
identical in its elementals with the position 
of a line man carrying through his charge. 
The wrestling mat and the fighting ring have 
been the source of the best information on 
line play. It will pay line men to study 
both. 

Use of Hands by Line Men 

The key of good defence work is aggres- 
sive breaking through by the line men, which 
depends for its success on the use of the 
hands. 

The general theory of retaining control of 
one's body and holding the weight in hand 
should be carefully explained to the entire 
team. The success of this principle in de- 




W. W. HEFFELFINGER, 
GUARD, YALE 



FUNDAMENTALS 27 

fensive line work depends on the sharp, 
aggressive use of hands. 

The principle of retaining control of one's 
body or weight is that a player either in 
tackling, interfering, charging, or breaking 
through should not commit himself until he 
is sure of doing effective work. Once com- 
mitted to diving interference, or once having 
allowed the opponent to get under the arms 
close to the body, it may be said that the 
player has passed control of his body or 
weight to the opponent, to be steered as the 
opponent may desire. This is a wide prin- 
ciple in all athletics and is no better exempli- 
fied in boxing or wrestling than in the game 
of football. Keep your weight in hand, 
under control. 

Keeping opponents away from the body 
when the play is directed at the defensive 
player is dependent upon the sharp, aggres- 
sive use of hands. Breaking through by 
spreading the offensive line or by slicing 
through is also dependent upon the use of 
hands. The answer to hard, sharp charging 
is the harder and sharper use of hands by 
the defense. 

It is to be noted that the rules of the game 
of football practically state that the offen- 



28 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

sive line men must stand on the line of scrim- 
mage with their heads protruding for the 
defensive players to use their hands on. 
Drills in hitting-power and striking the head 
are essential to the most effective line work. 
Guarding the head, of course, becomes essen- 
tial to the offensive line, but this, in the heat 
of scrimmage, is often ineffective. It is true 
that, even with long and careful drilling, de- 
fensive line men are able to hit a line man 
on the head only occasionally. If one 
investigates the statistics, he will find that 
out of one hundred attempts only about 
thirty are successful. 

Powerful striking of the opponent on some 
part of his body is essential to the best de- 
fensive line work, and it should be drilled 
constantly. The hands should at times be 
kept absolutely quiet. At times the arms 
should be swung back and forth. The 
charge should always be accompanied with 
hard striking with the arms or hands. It is 
the secret of good defense. 

Charging and the use of hands should be 
an important part of the gioup-work practice 
each day. The line coaches should put two 
lines opposite each other (never more than 
fourteen players, all told), and then they 



FUNDAMENTALS 29 

should go into every detail of this work, which 
is so essential to good position play. 

Summary 

A team skilled individually in these funda- 
mentals is bound to be strong. A team with- 
out this individual skill is bound to be weak. 
The excellence of the team is limited abso- 
lutely by the excellence of the individual 
players. The excellence of the individual is 
measured by his skill in executing the above 
fundamentals. 



Ill 

THE OFFENSE 

FOOTBALL is a war game. The most 
remarkable similarity exists between the 
basic principles of combat in war and in 
football. The War Department has pub- 
lished a book known as the Field Service 
Regulations for the government of troops in 
the field. One chapter of this book is devoted 
to combat operations and in its beginning are 
enumerated the great underlying principles 
of combat in football. 

Let us make these changes and quote. In 
doing so we are stating the great principles 
of both war and football. 

Combat 

Combat is divided into two general classes — the 
offensive and the defensive. The defensive is divided 
into the purely passive defense and the temporary 
defense, which has for its object the assimiption of the 
offensive at the first favorable opportimity. 

Decisive results are obtained only by the offensive. 



THE OFFENSE 31 

Aggressiveness wins battles. The purely passive de- 
fense is adopted only when the mission can be fully 
accomplished by this method of warfare. In all other 
cases, if a force be obliged by uncontrollable circum- 
stances to adopt the defensive, it must be considered 
as a temporary expedient, and a change to the offensive 
with all or part of the forces will be made as soon as 
conditions warrant such change. 

Combat Principles 

1. Individual superiority insures success. 

2. Unity of command is essential to success. 

3. Simple and direct plans and methods are produc- 

tive of the best results in war and football. 

4. Avoid dispersion; concentrate for action. 

5. Some reserves are essential. 

6. The flanks in an action must be protected. 

7. Reconnaissance continues throughout the action. 

1. Individual superiority in football is 
directly analogous to fire superiority in war 
and it means success. It is not plays that win 
football games; it is the development of the 
individual excellence of the players to the 
point where individual superiority in combat 
is secured. 

2. Divided leadership on or off the field 
of combat spells defeat in football as well as 
in war. There are few colleges that can- 
not recall disastrous years due to the viola- 
tion of this principle. 



32 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

3-4. Of all the great causes of defeat, the 
greatest arises from violating the rule of 
simplicity. Under the great stress of combat 
only that which is simple, clear, and capable 
of execution by the player of ordinary ability 
can be consummated with success. Allied 
with this rule of simplicity is the principle 
which states that dispersion in combat 
spells defeat. Complexity and dispersion 
go hand in hand as the Charybdis and 
Scylla to which 80 per cent of all defeats are 
due. 

6-7. It is well understood that a play un- 
protected on the flank cannot succeed, and 
there is no need to point out to the coaching 
systems that maintain telephone communi- 
cations with observers during games that 
''reconnaissance continues throughout the 
action.'' 

These great principles of combat in war 
are the great principles of combat in football 
and they are violated by those doing so at 
their peril. 

The Attack 

The attack in football may be by rushing, 
by kicking, by passing, by deception, or by 
a combination of any two. A good team is 



THE OFFENSE 33 

skilled in all methods of attack. Generalship 
and the attack are so closely allied that the 
one cannot be appreciated without an under- 
standing of the other. Scores resulting from 
a well-directed, effective attack are the object 
of the attack. 

By Rushing 

Various distributions of the eleven on the 
attack are permissible. The following stand- 
ard distributions are in general use: 

Seven men on the line of scrimmage, with the ball 
and center in the middle of the line; seven men with an 
unbalanced line of four men on one side of the center 
and two on the other; eight men on the line of scrim- 
mage, with five on one side of the ball and two on the 
other; eight men, with four on one side and three on 
the other. The back-field unit in general arranges it- 
self behind the middle of the offensive line, distributed 
either in tandem or parallel to the rush line at a distance 
that will permit the unit to hit the line as quickly as 
possible, going at maximum speed. 

Concentration is the keynote of the dis- 
tribution for a successful attack. The po- 
sition of the ball with respect to the distri- 
bution is of no consequence, provided that 
it is placed along the line of scrimmage so 
that the runner is not delayed on any drive 

or slant. 
3 



34 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



Destruction or sweeping aside of the op- 
posing force is the method of advance. 
All concentrations have the same lines of 




Lines of attack on the offense. From behind the concentration 
the backs, or "shock troops," may assault any interval or th« 
support of any interval in the opposing line of defense. 




"rvrx 



Lines of attack from the kick formation. The vital area 

when kicking is shaded This space must be protected at all 

costs. 

advance, irrespective of the position of the 
ball There are two straight drives through' 



THE OFFENSE 35 

the middle of the line, two close slants inside 
the defensive tackles, two wide slants out- 
side the defensive tackles, and two runs 
around the ends. 

This gives eight plays in the running 
attack, and there can be no more or no less. 
The end run and the wide slant to the short 
side are weak. 

The following principles are basic in the 
attack : 

1. The line must advance. If it cannot remove the 

resistance it must get out of the way itself. 

2. The backs must start immediately and hit the 

line at full speed. 

3. Delay of any character is fatal. 

4. Sending men away from the attack for deception 

weakens the attack. 

5. If the rimner takes more than five steps behind 

the line of scrimmage the play is weak. 

6. If the ball is behind the line of scrimmage for any 

reason such as line divides, splits, crisscrosses, 
or brain storms, for more than the time it takes 
a fast man to start and to take five steps running 
(say, one and one half seconds), the play is 
weak. 

7. If the line advances, the backs should go through 

to the secondary defense. At least once out of 
three times they should pass the first secondary. 

8. Forwards and interference, irrespective of other 

duties, always guard the line of the play until 
the runner has passed. 



36 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

9. Forwards more than twice removed always go 
through ahead to the secondary. 

This statement of the principles of the 
running attack is, of course, generah Any 
distribution that gives proper concentration 
is good. The backs may be arranged in any 
way. The ball may be in any position along 
the line of scrimmage. Any concentration, 
however, must advance on the lines stated. 
Having complied with these underlying prin- 
ciples, the issue becomes one of individual 
excellencfe. 

Line Play 

In general, the seven men on the line of 
scrimmage play foot and knee together, 
shoulders and feet square, weight over legs, 
a little weight on one hand. In general, the 
men at the point of attack drive straight 
forward and carry their opponents back. 
Those once removed charge close to those at 
the apex. The apex men ''pass their op- 
ponents along" to those once removed and 
go through on to the secondary. Diving 
opponents must be steered aside, stepped 
over, or brought up. There is nothing that 
can overcome the failure of the line to charge 
in front of the play. Failure in the charge is 



THE OFFENSE 37 

ruination to the attack. If the line goes Jor- 
ward the attack advances and the team wins. 
If the line comes backward the team loses. 

Seven Nomial Offensive Distribution? 



oooo#oo ooo^ooo 



o o 00 

ooooaoo OOOOO0O 



o 

S o- 
o 
ooooeooo o ooeoo o 



These seven diagrams show the normal 
offensive formations. It will be noted 
that simpUcity and concentration are 
paramount. The position of the ball 
000 varies. These fonnations are of the 

Q kind used by practically all successful 

o o o «> o o o ^^^"'^• 



Success in this feature is paramount even 
when the attack lacks scoring strength, as it 
makes the defense concentrate against it. 



38 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

No detail or study is too trivial or exacting 
in perfecting the offensive line. 

Offensive Backs 

The offensive backs are the striking unit. 
They may not directly help one another, but 
the concentrated shock of their rush will 
often drive the line forward when the issue 
of the charge hangs in the balance. Starting 
which causes the back to overreach on his 
first steps is to be avoided. Slight loss at the 
start is insignificant as compared to hitting 
the line with maximum effort. Gathering 
power culminating in the shock of hitting 
the line is what should be sought. 

Backs crouch in a position with the weight 
three quarters on the legs and one quarter 
on one hand. The position of the feet and 
weight admits of starting in any direction. 
The backs in front of the ball must be trained 
in helping the line on drives and close slants. 

Herewith is outlined a plan of a simple 
direct assault on the opposing defense. The 
formation assumed is the classic distribution 
with four men on one side of the center, the 
long side, and two men on the short side. 
The back field is arranged behind the middle 
of the offensive line in tandem. The backs 



THE OFFENSE 39 

are referred to as Nos. i, 2, and 3, in the 
order of their position from the line. That 
is, the man at the head of the tandem who 
is nearest the Une is called No. i. 

Straight Drives — Bucking the Center 

In these two plays the four men in front 
of the play advance together — the apex men 
going through on the secondary defense 

Standard Plays in Execution 

-•' ^ (S X.'Qt. 



The Play Straight Ahead 

This diagram shows the wedging rushline with linemen and 
end through in front of the runner. 

after passing their opponent along. The 
long side end goes through to the secondary. 
No. I back goes through in front of runner if 
the charge is successful. If not, he works to 



40 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

the outside. No. 3 back strikes the line in 
rear of the quarterback. The No. 2, or 
middle, back strikes the line with the ball 
going through, as signaled, on either side of 
the middle line man. 

Close Slants— Cross Buck to Either Side 

In these two plays, all the offensive line 
in front of the play, except the end, work to 
turn the guard in. The end checks the tackle 

Standard PIay$ in E?tecut{oi> 



o^d d 




A Close Sla^t 

until the two backs in front of the ball arrive 
and crash into him. This is the strongest 
play in football. On the goal line, this slant 
noses out around the tackle and No. 2 back 
takes the end. In any territory the No. 2 
back is responsible for an in-driving end. 



THE OFFENSE 41 

No. 3 carries the ball. After passing through 
the line he turns and *' reverses the field.'* 
The removed end, after protecting the line 
of the play until the runner is well started, 
goes through to the secondary. 

Wide Slants — Off-tackle Plays 

In these two plays the offensive rush line 
pins the opposing end of the defensive rush 
line in place and the play then ** skins*' by 

Standard Plays in Execution 



c/e-^-e-e-e-db /^ 



^cf 



The Off-Tackle Play 

'*off tackle.'' No. i back boxes the tackle if 
the end has failed to do it. If the tackle is 
boxed, No. i goes on to the defensive back. 
No. 2 takes the end. This play is executed 
on a slight swing, not on a straight line as 



42 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



with drives and close slants. No. 3 swings 
out or reverses the field, at his option. The 
removed end and tackle go through to the 
secondary, after protecting the line of the 
play. 

End Runs 

These plays start parallel to the rush line. 
If the end comes well across, Nos. i and 2 
hold him out, the runner swinging in and 

Standard Plays in Execution 




X/ 






The End Run 

then out. If the end drives in, No. 2 takes 
him, the runner goes outside, No. i and the 
quarterback cut inside the end, and meet 
the runner outside. The principles of open- 
field running then apply. 

The method of play outlined above is that 



THE OFFENSE 43 

in which a wedge is driven through the de- 
fense on the straight drives. On the close 
slants a hole is opened by driving the de- 
fensive guard in and the defensive tackle out. 
On the wide slants and end runs the defen- 
sive tackle is pinned in place and skirted. 
Simple, clean-cut, fast, direct assault is the 
keynote. 

There is another method of line play used 
by some teams when the direct pass is used. 

Standard Plays in' Execution 




00 



A Reverse Play 

The direct pass permits of an eighth man per- 
manently on the end of the line of scrimmage. 
It is the practice of some coaches to pair 
off these eight men against four of the de- 
fensive line men, neglecting the defensive 



44 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

line man farthest removed. In this method, 
sometimes one defensive Hne man is carried 
back and sometimes another. This is taken 
advantage of by developing a style of play 
where the backs, after having started, run at 
medium speed parallel to the rush line and 
then drive by the tackle by making a right- 
angle turn when opposite him. If the tackle 
blocks the play, the runner noses back toward 
the center and tries to work through, where 
either the defensive guard or center has 
been carried back. The usual drives, slants, 
and end runs are also used with all the essen- 
tial elements of the simple direct assault. 

The Kicking Attack 

The kicking game is an offensive rather 
than a defensive measure. A good kick 
transfers the struggle one third the length 
of the field nearer the opponent's goal. The 
essential requirement of the distribution is 
that it shall thoroughly protect the kicker. 
It is the strongest forward-pass formation. 

The general formation is with three line 
men on either side of the ball. The kicker 
should be eight to ten yards directly behind 
the middle of the line, with two backs in 
front of him on the side of his kicking foot, 



THE OFFENSE 45 

so placed that they can protect the vital 
space in which the ball rises from the kicker's 
foot. The fourth back protects the kicker 
on the side away from his kicking foot. 

Running plays are executed on the same 
principles as in the close attack. Some 
schemes of offense have even moved the de- 
fending backs close to the line and distributed 
the line men as in the running attack. There 
is this difference in the play of the line, how- 
ever: the line is free on all drives or slants 
to open holes and allow the runner to go 
through free. On sweeping runs, which have 
recently been somewhat effective, owing to 
poor defensive end work, the line men pro- 
tect the line of the play, the removed side 
swinging back into the interference. 

The essential feature of the open forma- 
tion is the kick. The essential feature of the 
kick is distance, with sufficient height to 
enable the ends to cover. The kick should 
advance the ball at least thirty yards be- 
yond the line of scrimmage. 

Protection 

In order to protect the kick, the line holds 
fast. Nobody goes down with the ball ex- 
cept the ends. The line does not charge. It 



46 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

sustains the opponent's charge and holds 
fast from tackle to tackle. In doing this the 
individual members of the line are careful 
not to allow the opponents either to spread 
them or to jump over them. 

The line men are free to go down the field 
after they hear the ball kicked. The removed 
tackle may go slightly before the kick, pro- 
vided he is sure that in leaving his position he 
does not jeopardize the kick defense. Good 
coaching will enable linemen to time their 
start and the kick very closely. It is always 
safest to wait for the kick. The kick should 
take not more than two seconds against a 
strong opponent. 

The defensive backs form protection on 
both sides of the kicker. The back on the 
side away from the kicker's foot, usually the 
quarterback, if attacked by two men, takes 
position well back and moves forward at that 
fraction of a second when the opposing line 
man starts to cut through in front of him. 
The situation is handled similarly if the 
back is attacked by three men. If only one 
man comes through, the back may handle 
him from his position under the line or back 
of it. Sometimes a quarterback can handle 
two men from his position under the line by 



THE OFFENSE 47 

driving the inside man out against his 
partner. 

The defensive backs on the side of the 
kicker's foot form an arc behind which the 
ball is kicked. They sustain the charge and 
are careful neither to spread nor to allow 
opponents to jump over them. Their work 
is vital and they must never fail. 

The kicker is responsible for his protection 
being in the right position. He must also 
see to it that he and his protection take 
plenty of distance. The answer to aggressive 
charging is ''more distance" or a '*fake kick'' 
at the fast opponent, or both. 

The kicker must kick behind his protection. 
Kicking, like catching, is inherent in the in- 
dividual. Rarely do two men kick exactly 
aUke. Rarely are kickers **made.'' 

The Ends 

When the ball is put in play for a kick, the 
ends are called upon to cover it — the most 
important duty of their position. They 
start from an unobstructed position, dig like 
a sprinter for fifteen yards, note the direc- 
tion of the kick, and swing down upon the 
catcher from the outside. Generally they 
slow up at the end of their run so as not to 



48 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

overrun the catcher. A good end at times 
takes a chance and lands the catcher going 
full speed. But when the ends slow up, they 
must be careful to watch out for the op- 
posing ends or halfbacks interfering from the 
rear. If they encounter obstruction while 
starting or running, they use their hands and 
arms without diminishing their speed. 

The Line Dow^n the Field 

The line men drive down the field, spread- 
ing out like a fan, and altering their direction 

Standard Deccptjon^ 



A crisscrosflL 



^6 

O O CT* O O 

according to any movement the catcher 
makes. Of course, the backs follow the line. 
These principles are basic in the kicking 
attack. 

1. The kicker must get his kick off within two 

seconds. 

2. The kick must go at least thirty yards and be 

high enough to be covered. 

3. The Hne and defensive backs must hold. 



THE OFFENSE 49 

4. The kicker must kick behind his protection. 

5. The ends must tackle the catcher with little or 

no run back. 

6. The defense must hold the attack of the opponents 

and the back field catch the return kick. The 
issue is then one of individual excellence. 

The Drop Kick 

When the attack by running, passing, or 
kicking finds itself in the vicinity of the op- 
ponent's goal and elects to try a field goal, 
a regular-kick formation is taken. 

The only difference between the drop-kick 
formation and the^regular-kick formation, in 
both distribution and duties, lies in the ends. 

The ends in the drop-kick formation play 
in close and block until the kick is made. 
They then resume their down-field duties. 

In all drop-kick formations, all the backs, 
especially the kicker, are safety men — that 
is, they recover a blocked kick. 

All runs and passes may be executed from 
drop-kick situations. Indeed, the drop-kick 
formation near the opponent's goal, threaten- 
ing run, kick, or pass, is one of the quarter- 
back's strongest weapons. 

The final word on the kicking game is that 
it is an offensive weapon. Those teams that 
resort to it only when compelled to do so 



so 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



and after their rushing or passing attack is 
stopped make a great mistake. Quarter- 
backs, before they leave the kindergarten of 
football, must learn to ** press the kicking 

Standard Deceptions 




A delayed run. 



oooo#o 



9 




A quick kiclc. 



OOO 



game/' The successful quarterback must 
know its principles thoroughly. Most closely 
contested games are kicking contests, from 
which the break and the opportunity are 
developed. 

The Attack by Forward Passing 

The forward pass is executed from any 
formation. It is always made to an open 
space and almost always received on the run. 




CHARLES BRICKLEY, FULLBACK, HARVARD 



THE OFFENSE 51 

For both offense and defense the question 
is one of the receiver getting to an open 
space uncovered. These open spaces exist 
in the center territory between the wing 
backs or to the outside flanks of the wing 
backs. Open territory exists in rear of all 
the defensive backs. It also exists close to 
the line of scrimmage in rear of the charging 
end and tackle. Open spaces can be made by 
deception. For instance, both ends, by lead- 
ing out into the open, may draw the wing 
backs away from their territory. A halfback 
may then receive in the vacated space. 
From kick formation the offensive line may 
charge through without obstructing the de- 
fensive line, thus leaving the rush-line terri- 
tory free f^r a receiver. 

Passing to the side flat, in rear of, or along, 
the rush line is highly dangerous. Passing 
to the territory uncovered by a charging 
tackle or end, if the pass is made directly 
ahead, is, however, sometimes effective. The 
best passes are made to the receiver going to 
the open spaces down field. The receiver 
reaches this space by change of direction and 
pace, and he takes the ball going fast, gener- 
ally turned in. 

Passes cannot be made on the run. They 



52 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

cannot be caught safely at extended speed. 
They are thrown on a fast traveHng lob. If 
the receiver is unusually reliable, they may 
be shot like a baseball. They are generally 
thrown to a spot in advance of the receiver, 
the spot being dependent upon the speed 
and route of the receiver. Passes are always 
caught with the hands, like a baseball. 

Delay is desirable. Two seconds' delay is 
necessary to make a good attempt from close 
formation. From open formation, the passer 
generally has all the time necessary with one 
protector. In close formation, this delay is 
obtained by the line holding. The backs 
spread and protect either side of the passer. 
In open formation the line need not block. 
Delay is obtained by the single protector in 
front of the passer. The passer raay back 
off to the side. Plenty of time is available 
from the open formation. 

The passer does not pass if he sees that the 
receiver cannot get the ball. 

The passer and receiver should appreciate 
the fact that a ball thrown to an open space 
in advance of the receiver will result only, 
at the worst, in an uncompleted pass, pro- 
vided the receiver is leading, by no mattej* 
how small a margin, the defensive backs. 



THE OFFENSE S3 

The forward pass is a strong play. It is 
peculiarly strong as a scoring play. In the 
hands of greater individual excellence it is 

Standard Deceptions 



A fake forward pass. 



a rapid means of scoring. In the hands of 
inferior players it is a boomerang. Close to 
its own goal it is unusually dangerous to 
weak and strong alike. 

Passing and receiving can be learned only 
by constant daily practice, under a good 
coach, from the beginning of the year. 

When the direct pass is used and the dis- 
tribution is such that the extra man is out- 
side and behind the end, two receivers are 
available on that side of the attack. It will 
be seen that in this case the defensive wing 
back is in a serious dilemma if the two re- 
ceivers run at him, one turning out and the 
other down the field. This is an important 



54 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

advantage resulting from the use of the 
direct pass. 

Delay, secured by deception, will do much 
to strengthen the passing attack. For in- 
stance, some of the very excellent passers 
can fake a run, stop, and pass. A crisscross 
preceding a pass, with a delayed receiver 
running into an open space from which the 
defenders have been drawn by the other 
eligibles, can be used successfully. 

The Attack by Deception 

The standard deceptions from the close and 
open formations are as follows: 

1. The crisscross. 

2. Split plays. 

3. The hidden ball. 

4. Delayed runs. 

5. Quick kick. 

6. Fake forward pass. 

In addition, the fake kick is an important 
deception used from the open formation. 

The old crisscross, where the back starts 
on an end run and passes the ball back to 
the end going in the opposite direction, is 
one of the best deceptions. It has a long his- 
tory of success. Split plays, where part of 
the backs go in one direction and the others 



THE OFFENSE 55 

with the ball in another direction, have had 
little success. The defense is too quick to 
spot the ball. The *' hidden ball'' is executed 
in the same manner as a split play or a criss- 
cross. The transfer of the ball is hidden by 
the player passing, by keeping his back to the 
opponents, thus preventing them from seeing 
who really gets the ball for a small vital 
fraction of a second. Delayed runs and the 
fake forward pass both depend for their suc- 
cess on the defensive end failing to cross the 
line of scrimmage and spotting the ball. A 
good end very rarely fails to execute both 
these essentials of good end play. The quick 
kick is advantageous and necessary only 



^qO AspUtplay. 




000*000 



when the defensive quarterback comes up 
to support the defensive backs. In such 
case, a quick kick over his head, provided it 
can be well executed, is a desirable play. 

The really vital deception is the fake kick 
because it tends to protect the kicker and 
strengthen the kicking attack. A good fake 
kick is a run or drive that may be launched 



56 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

at any fast-charging line man or end who is 
hurrying the kicker. So used, it will tend to 
slow up that defensive player on his suc- 
ceeding charges and thus give the kicker 
plenty of time to get his kick away. 

Deceptions are all weak. Too many are 
ruinous. A fake kick, and possibly one other 
from the well-proved standard list, might be 
adopted. 

Unusual Distributions on the Offense 

Unusual distributions on the offense may 
be disposed of by noting that lack of strength 
goes with lack of concentration. On running 
plays, delay of the ball behind the line is a 
weakness. Obvious forward-pass formations, 
which are without concentration, are always 
doomed to failure in rushing, through lack 
of concentration, and to failure in passing 
through the spreading of the defense. 

Summary 

An analysis of the foregoing will show that 
a well-rounded attack should have eight 
running plays (four or five of which can be 
executed from open formation), a kick, three 
passes (one to the center and one to either 
jflank), and one or two standard deceptions, 



THE OFFENSE 57 

one of which is the fake kick. Under no cir- 
cumstances should there be more than these 
fourteen plays. If the character of the team 
and its development permit, the number 
may be reduced. 

Conclusion 

It may seem to many that the attack out- 
lined in the preceding exposition is old fash- 
ioned and out of date. In many parts of the 
country, spreads, flying interference, sudden 
shifts of the rush line, and various other com- 
binations are much in vogue. To those who 
believe that such complex formations make 
for success, a study of the history of the at- 
tack in football is recommended. The direct 
and simple assault of the defensive rush line 
has been the only form of attack that has 
yielded consistent success in football. For 
years, from 1890 until 1907, Yale was pre- 
eminent in the college football world. This 
pre-eminence was obtained and maintained 
by adhering to the simple direct assault. 
From 1908 until the present day. Harvard 
has wrested this pre-eminence from Yale by 
adopting the simple, concentrated, direct 
attack, whereas Yale has yielded her former 
glory the more readily by flirting with vari- 



S8 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

ous jumping or spread rush lines, queer 
lateral passing, and other complex formations 
in defiance of her success and her history. 
There has been in the history of football but 
one successful attack, and that attack is the 
one that has been outlined above. 

Success should follow simplicity of opera- 
tion. The ordinary player — the problem of 
all coaches — ^is then free to concentrate on 
proving his individual superiority over his 
opponent, and it is on this individual superi- 
ority that the success of a team rests. 



IV 

THE DEFENSE 

IT is necessary to turn again to the prin- 
ciples of war to obtain the proper concep- 
tion of the defense in football. The defense 
is but a temporary expedient. It does not 
give us positive results. It should never be 
passive, however. Indeed, each defensive 
operation, in the classic defense, is a savage 
attack of the offensive play. 

Three great principles underlie all success- 
ful defense. They are as follows: 

1. When the attack concentrates, spreads, divides, or 

deepens, the defense does the same — that is, the 
center of mass of the defensive distribution is 
always opposite'the center of mass of the offense. 

2. The best defense is to foresee the play to be 

chosen by the offense and to concentrate quickly 
against it when the ball goes in play — that is, 
outguess the opposing quarterback. 

3. A savage attack of the offensive play. 

Balance the Attack 

The classic distribution against the con- 
centrated attack consists in placing seven 



6o AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

men on the line of scrimmage. The center of 
this rush Hne is opposite the center of mass 
of the attack. Behind this center and within 
immediate supporting distance is a halfback. 
Somewhat withdrawn on either wing two 

,, o o o o « o o 

X y X ® X y X 



/v 


X 


s yds. 


to yds. 




^ 


X 


40" yds. 

V 

X 


X 



Nonnal defense against rushing attack.^ 

other halfbacks stand. They are as close to 
the line of scrimmage as they can get and 
still feel sure of being able to cover a for- 
ward-pass receiver darting suddenly from the 
offensive rush line. In the back field, at the 
extreme range of the offensive kicker, is the 
eleventh man on the team — usually the 
quarterback. 

The variations of this distribution depend 
upon the attack formation. If a kick or open 
formation is assumed by the offense, the de- 
fensive team must deepen also. If, instead 
of a standard-kick formation, the offense 



THE DEFENSE 6i 

only partially deepens, the defense must do 
likewise. 

One man sent out to the flank is balanced 
by the defensive wing back ; two men by the 
end and back; three men by the tackle, 
end, and back. In each case the remainder 
of the defensive team shift their position so 
that the center of mass of the defensive dis- 
tribution is opposite that of the offense. 

Should the offense assume a formation 
with one, two, or three yards between the 
offensive line men, the defense does the 
same. In general, in this case the defensive 
line men charge through the interval and not 
at the offensive player. This charging is the 
reverse of that against a close concentration, 
where the defensive line men charge the man 
and not the interval. 

There are three groups in all defensive 
distributions. The end, tackle, and wing 
back form a triangle on either flank, while 
the center of the defense is held by the two 
guards, the center, and the middle back. 
It is important that the triangular relation- 
ship of the tackle, end, and wing back be 
understood by the players, and that they be 
trained to realize that on the defense they 
are not individuals, but a group. For in- 



62 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

stance, should the end desire to drive in more 
quickly than usual, he should speak to the 
halfback and caution him to watch the out- 
side. Should the tackle desire to break wide, 
he notifies the halfback; similarly, he noti- 
fies both end and half if he is going through 
inside. The center group has a similar de- 
pendent relationship. Communication be- 
tween players in matters of this kind is gener- 
ally by private signal or catch phrases. 

In general, against the close formation the 
principle governing the position of any line 
man is that he uncovers from the ball all the 
ground he is able to protect. This generally 
results in bringing the defensive tackle oppo- 
site and not outside the offensive end. 

It is vital that a defensive line man should 
not stand outside the territory he expects to 
protect and then charge into it. On the 
contrary, the history of successful line play 
shows that the defensive line man should 
stand well within the territory he expects to 
defend and charge out. 

Following this procedure it is clear that 
the defensive line, in attacking any play, 
must operate as follows: The tackle charges 
over through or outside the defensive end 
and is responsible for the territory between 



THE DEFENSE 63 

the offensive end and tackle. He should get 
two to two and a half yards into the defen- 
sive territory. The guard charges over 
through or outside the defensive tackle and 
should get about a yard into the opposing 
attack. He is responsible for the territory 
between the offensive tackle and guard. The 
defensive center charges to the outside guard 
and is responsible for the territory between 
the offensive guards. This places the short- 
side defensive guard opposite the center, and 
he is responsible for the territory on either 
side of this center. It is assumed that the 
offensive center is so handicapped by han- 
dling the ball that this is possible. The short- 
side defensive tackle operates exactly as his 
fellow on the long side. 

The result of this method of operation of 
the defensive line men is that the defensive 
line breaking through forms an arc inside the 
offense, with both tackles at its tips. This 
arc encompasses all plays of the attack. 

If the play is directed at a particular line 
man, it will be seen that the line man is 
standing within the territory to be protected. 
By merely stopping his charge, fighting his 
way to the ground, and going under the play, 
he blocks its route. Moreover, his fellows, 



64 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

due to the policy of breaking wide, are coming 
directly to his assistance. The only un- 
guarded hole has the middle defensive back 
directly behind it. 

It is vital, whenever the attack begins 
to gain ground, that the defensive backs hit 
the play before it gets beyond the line of 
scrimmage. 

Outguess the Quarterback 

The players must be trained to figure, 
while on the defense, upon what play the 
opposing quarterback is about to call. The 
defensive team must understand the prin- 
ciples of generalship to such an extent that its 
members can make a reasonable guess as to 
what their opponents propose to do. 

In order to stimulate the thought and ac- 
tion of one another, the defensive football 
team should talk like a baseball team. It is 
a good plan to encourage the ends and the 
backs to call the down and distance, and to 
caution one another constantly on what they 
think the next play is to be. 

It is essential, and none too easy, to train 
the defensive team to recognize certain vital 
situations which require additional effort on 
its part. One of these situations is where the 



1 



THE DEFENSE 65 

offense finds itself near the side line. The 
defense must realize that in this predicament 
one half of the possibilities of the attack are 
cut off. It is, therefore, of great advantage 
to hold the offense in close to the side line 
without letting it get outside. Similar posi- 
tions are those where the attack is backed up 
on its own goal line. It sounds trite, but it is 
none the less of vital importance that the 
defensive team should realize its opportunity 
and endeavor by a supreme effort to hold the 
attack in just this fix and then try to block 
the kick, or at least make a fair catch and 
shoot for a score. 

Either the center or the middle back should 
be required to change by signal the distri- 
bution of the back field, the roving center, 
and possibly one end. The man giving this 
signal must be sufficiently trained in field 
positions and the probability arising from a 
given down and distance, so that he can call 
the kick defense, forward-pass defense, or 
close defense with reasonable safety. How- 
ever, a well-trained individual or group is 
above any signal system. They will, by con- 
stant co-operation and guessing of the op- 
posing quarterback, shift their positions to 
meet the probable play. 



66 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

It is customary, when expecting a kick, to 
drop the center back. His position, when 
dropped back, depends upon what the de- 



o 

o 



Kick deCense. 

O 



p _op#oo o 

>yds, 



X X X^ X X X 



X X 

Si X 

fensive ends are to do, either one or both, 
about going through. The center also comes 
back on the forward-pass defense, and some 
times with one end. 

The defensive back field should be in con- 
stant motion, if only for the purpose of mis- 
leading the opposing quarterback. For in- 
stance, a back may be able to draw a forward 
pass by coming up close to the line and then, 
as the signal is called, hurrying back to a 
safe position. This general method of opera- 
tion also applies to defensive line work. 



THE DEFENSE 67 

The defensive back field also changes po- 
sition with the down and distance and the 
number of players in the back field. If the 
center drops back, the middle back and 
center divide up the defense behind their 
rush line. If one end stands flat or drops 
back, the remainder of the back field all 
move over to cover more securely the 
ground vacated by the opposite end when 
he goes through. Above all, all members in 
the back field keep shifting their positions 
and constantly guessing aloud the opposing 
quarterback. 

When the attack has two eligible receivers 
on the end of the rushline, the closest co- 
operation must exist between the wing back 
and the middle back. The quarterback, in 
case this situation is very dangerous, must at 
times be ready to come up fast to help the 
wing back out of his predicament. 

A Savage Defense 

Paramount to all other features of the de- 
fense is that of an aggressive, attacking spirit. 
The defense, above all, must carry the fight to 
the opponents. This is accomplished by line 
men in the sharp, aggressive use of hands in 
breaking through. The backs must be taught 



68 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

that when the attack is gaining ground they 
must meet the runner before he passes the 
line of scrimmage. The ends must not only 
turn the play in, but they must also drive 
into it — getting the runner or smashing the 
interference. » 

A desperate attempt to block every kick 
is an essential of good defense. Only an 
excellently trained team can withstand a 
determined onslaught on the kicker. A 

o o o o # o o . 

X XX XXX 



5 yds. 

V 




X 


lo yd*. 


4o^ds. 

X 


X 


A forward pass defense.' 





blocked kick wrecks morale and often gives 
the defense not less than half the field. Often 
it wins a game. A determined attack on the 
kicker always results in hurrying the kick. 
This generally results in a short kick. 

A savage attempt to block the forward 
pass is the best forward-pass defense. The 
rules permit a defensive player to launch him- 



THE DEFENSE 69 

self into the passer while attempting in good 
faith to block the pass. This should be done 
if necessary. It is vital that the passer be 
compelled to throw the ball the moment he 
gets it. 

There are certain features of defensive 
play on which there is considerable difference 
of opinion among leading coaches. One of 
the greatest of these is the method of playing 
defensive end. Some coaches have the de- 
fensive end, on all plays, drive straight into 
the back field. This has not been a very 
successful method. The classic method of 
end play has been to make the end respon- 
sible for the outside. He crosses the line of 
scrimmage three steps, slows the play up, 
and turns it in, and then gets the runner or 
the interference. The greatest ends have 
followed this method. 

Another defensive feature over which 
there has been considerable difference among 
coaches is the method of line play. Many 
coaches require their line men to play with 
their weight on one or both hands and then 
to drive ahead straight, going under the 
offensive line. Given equal personnel, this 
method has generally failed. The traditional 
method of line play, which has met with 



70 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

success, is that in which the defensive player 
occupies the territory he is to defend and is 
trained to break through to the outside of 
his opponent — arresting his outward charge 
when he sees the play is at him, otherwise 

O G O O ® O O 

X X X (S) X X X 

X X 

X X 

A goal line defense. 

going through. This latter method requires 
more of the defensive player, develops him 
more, yields greater results, and is the way 
that the greatest players have played. 

Conclusion 

The defense in football, as in war, is but a 
temporary expedient. It is, of course, vital 
that the defense hold, otherwise it is difficult 
for the attack to play their kicking game 
or rushing attack as an offensive feature. 
Therefore, sufficient time must be put on de- 
fensive training to make it difficult for the 
attack to gain any ground in any part of 
the field, at any stage of the game. 




EDWARD MAHAN, HALFBACK, HARVARD 



V 

POSITION PLAY 

THE objective of all coaching is excellence 
in position play. Team work is the 
natural result of high-grade position play. 
The coach who depends primarily for team 
work upon well-drilled, co-ordinated group 
work is building his house upon sand. Good, 
reliable team work is the product of but one 
thing, and that is high-grade position play. 
Therefore, it behooves the coach to concen- 
trate upon the individuals and to develop 
each to his highest excellence. 

All really good football players have cer- 
tain endowments without . which it would 
have been difficult for them to succeed. 
These are brains, speed, co-ordination, and 
power. All are essential. All of us can recall 
plenty of great players who were decidedly 
lacking in one or another of these attributes. 
But their success was due to an unusual 
endowment of one of the other essentials and 



72 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

they were great in spite of the lack of any 
given one. There are a very few who seemed 
to have them all. 

Certain positions on a football team de- 
mand, in addition to the essentials named, a 
certain amount of experience. Few back- 
field men can make good before acquiring 
several years of experience. It is rare, in 
the modern game, that an end or a center can 
learn to interpret properly in his first year 
the chameleon like changes of a football 
game. Experience is an asset hard to replace. 

Quite often we hear inexperienced coaches 
complain of the lack of courage or sand in 
some of their players. The fault is not with 
the player, but with the coach. There is no 
quality so universal as courage when the 
players are handled properly. Any player 
properly handled will give everything he 
has for the success of the team. It is merely 
a case of expert management. A young line 
coach was noticed once to have discarded 
certain apparently very promising players. 
When asked about it he said: ''They are no 
good. They are yellow." When pressed for 
an explanation, he said that he was showing 
them how to use their hands in breaking 
through ; after arranging their heads just so, 



POSITION PLAY 73 

he hit one of the neophytes a good jolt on the 
jaw and sHced through. He then repeated 
the formation, and if the player winced or 
ducked on the second trial he knew he was 
yellow and no good. So he wasted no more 

O o 

o 

# oooooo 

Freak formation: an attempt to overbalance the defense. 
Surprise necessary. 

O 

O 

O 

OOOOO 

O • O 

Freak formation: following the command "Hep,*" this distri- 
bution jumps to any normal or freak fonnation. Used 
extensively in the West and South._ 

time on that particular man. If the success- 
ful coaches in the game of football had a 
predilection for any such Spartan acid tests 
as had this young coach, their successes 
would have been few and far between. Any 



^ 



74 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

coach who is worried about the sand of his 
men should consider how the white race, 
believing in its cause, went over the top 
during the World War. 

End Position 

The end on the offense should take a square 
stand on the line of scrimmage. His tail 
should be down and his head up. The 
weight of the body should be on the feet and 
not on the hands. He should not take po- 
sition until the last moment, so as to worry 
the defensive tackle. When he takes po- 
sition the distance from his own tackle should 
be varied. 

When the ball goes in play he should make 
a quick, hard charge, followed up with short 
steps. At times he should make contact with 
his shoulder and sometimes with his elbow. 
Some ends have been quite efficient at driving 
sideways under a tackle's hands, hitting him 
with their hips, and crawling into him on 
hands and feet. In general, the tackle is 
attacked from the inside or outside, de- 
pending on whether an inside or outside 
tackle play is called. 

On straight drives the end holds his ground 
momentarily, protecting the flank of the play. 



POSITION PLAY 75 

When the line of the play is safe, the end 
drives through in front of the runner and 
takes out the first defensive back he can get 
to who threatens the play. 

Good ends must be expert in leaving the 
line of scrimmage quickly when called upon 
to run with the ball. They must be drilled 
in taking the character of step which comes 
natural to them in getting away from the 
line quickly. 

When called upon to receive the forward 
pass, he must get away from the line of scrim- 
mage quickly at all costs. An end who al- 
lows the defense to check him on leading out 
for a forward pass has wrecked the pass. 
At all costs, the end must get away free. 
After leaving the line of scrimmage, the end 
leads out into the open space, receives the 
pass, and becomes an open-field runner — 
that is, he leads out into the open on a 
straight line, draws out the defense, and re- 
verses the field or outruns it. 

The pass should be caught with the hands 
like a baseball. One or both hands check the 
momentum of the ball, guide it to the body, 
and both hands then pin it there. It is then 
''fixed** under the arm, elbow and hand 
covering either point rigidly. 



76 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

The skill which marks a good offensive end 
is that which always keeps the defensive 
tackle guessing. 

When a kick is called, the end must move 
out so as to have an unobstructed start from 
the line of scrimmage. He moves away like 
a sprinter and after about fifteen yards he 
should verify the direction of the kick, swing 
to its outside, and bear down upon the 
catcher. Just before the ball lands, the end 
ordinarily slows up somewhat so as to have 
his weight well in hand in case the back tries 
to dodge or to reverse him. Sometimes it is 
good policy to tackle the catcher while going 
at full speed, just as he catches the ball. 
The end must be prepared to meet the oppo- 
sition of the defensive back and he must re- 
member that he is authorized to use his 
hands. At times the best defense is an attack 
of the defensive back. Some backs are 
trained to attack the end when he looks up 
to verify the flight of the ball or when he 
slows up to tackle. Forewarned is fore- 
armed in such cases. Deception and proper 
use of the arms and hands will protect the 
end. 

Defensive end play is reasonably simple. 
Against the running attack the defensive 



POSITION PLAY 77 

end goes straight across the line of scrim- 
mage, meets the play with outstretched 
arms, slows it up, and turns it in. He takes 
as little ground from his tackle as he can, 
remembering that he is responsible for the 
outside. Having turned the play in, the end 
should drive into it from the flank, trying 
for the runner or all the interference. 

He follows all plays on the opposite side 
of the line from behind, remembering that 
above all else he is a ball spotter. The end's 
first business, after crossing the line on all 
plays, is to spot the ball and guard against 
crisscrosses and other deceptions. It fol- 
lows that he should be the man on the spot 
in case of a fumble. 

Against the forward pass, the rule for end 
play is to hurry the pass. He must knock 
down the ball if possible, always jumping 
high at and in front of the passer. Consider- 
able variation is permissible in end play 
against a forward pass. By signal he may 
stand flat and make himself responsible for 
short passes into his territory. In this case 
he must never let the receiver pass him. He 
should catch the ball if he can and knock it 
down, at all costs. Crowd the receiver, jump 
for the ball when necessary. It is vital that 



78 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

the ends vary their play to fit the occasion 
against a good forward-passing team. They 
must smell out the pass and notify their wing 



o 
o o 

ooo • ooo 

Tvesk fonnation: an attempt to scatter the defense apd still 
retain concentration. 

O 

o o o 

o o o • o o o 



Freak formation: entire dispersion; all rushing strength 
.sacrificed.. 

back. by signal of whether they are going 
through or standing fiat. Near the side line 
they have an excellent opportunity to take 
the shortest, straightest line to passer or 
kicker. 



POSITION PLAY 79 

Against the kicking attack, the rule is for 
the end to hurry the kicker. This must 
always be so varied that a skillful quarter- 
back cannot figure exactly on what the end 
is to do. Near the side lines and close to the 
opponent's goal, the end generally goes 
straight to the kicker, working in conjunc- 
tion with the tackle, and by signal cautioning 
the wing back to watch his territory and the 
outside. Sometimes the end may stand flat 
or even drop back off the line of scrimmage. 

An end has considerable leeway in playing 
his position. He may break any rule pro- 
vided he achieves the result. Above all he 
must remember that on the defense he is re- 
sponsible for the outside. On the attack he 
must be a good receiver of the pass, capable 
at handling the tackle, and fast and effective 
down the field under a kick. 

Position Play — Guards, Tackles, and 
Center 

Before the forward pass was introduced 
into the game of football, it was a fixed and 
vital principle that if the line went forward 
the team won and if the line came backward 
the team lost. This principle in the modern 
game has its exceptions, but they are few and 



8o AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

far between. If nowadays an advancing line 
does not always lead directly to a touchdown 
by rushing, it always makes opportunities 
and generally ruins the opposing attack. 
This great underlying principle of offensive 
and defensive line work should be engraved 
on the heart of every line man. If the line 
goes forward the team wins, if the line comes 
back the team loses. 

The line is the center of the battle. Skill 
and knowledge of the game will help a line 
man tremendously, but neither knowledge 
nor skill will relieve line men of the rough, 
hard fight which is the essence of, football 
and which begins, and often ends, on the line 
of scrimmage. Above all, the line men must 
be imbued with a spirit of punishing fight. 
They must carry the fight to the opponents 
and keep it there all the afternoon. 

Line men should practice the art of con- 
centration. To fight in a dream is as fatal 
for them as it is for a pugilist. Eye and mind 
must be trained to concentration. The un- 
derlying principle of eye concentration is 
that it must be concentrated on the ball. 
Some coaches will tell their men to watch 
both ball and opponent. Never was a more 
fatal error made. The eye cannot watch 



POSITION PLAY 8x 

two fast-moving things at the same time. 
To tell when the ball moves, the eye must be 
absolutely concentrated on it. On the de- 
fense, the line should always start with the 
ball. On the offense, the line may start with 
the ball or on verbal signal. In either case 
the line man must choose the object to be 
watched and concentrate upon it. 

DEFENSE 

The principle of defensive line work is to 
stand well in and to charge out, thus spread- 
ing and opening the offensive line. In 
general, the offensive line principle is the 
reverse of this. The line should make a 
wedge-shaped advance, keeping a close line. 

The position of the defensive line man is 
analogous to that of a fighter stepping into 
a clinch or that of a wrestler starting a bout. 
Much of the best thought on line work has 
come from professional fighting and wrestling. 
The line man stands square on the line of 
scrimmage, with feet well separated. The 
weight and tail should be very low and the 
hands should be held still, but ready to strike 
in aiding the line man to break through. 

Before taking final position the defensive 
line man should keep moving up and down 



82 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

the line. Often it is a good plan to worry 
the opposing quarterback by lining up in 
rear of the man at his side and then jumping 
into position at the last moment. After 
having taken position, the feet should be 
shifted slightly in order to get the opponents 

cPo 

ooo 

oqp 

oo 

O Ball 

Freak formation: players congregate and get signal for next 

play. They then jump to the new distribution and ball goes 

into play without signal. 

guessing and thus break down their plans 
for charging. 

There have been many famous methods of 
breaking through. Heffelfinger is said to 
have charged his opponent with his elbow, 
holding his hands locked while doing so. 
Brown had a tremendous uppercutting jolt 
which he used to turn his opponent aside. 
No line player ever played lower than Brown. 
His tremendous frame was drawn down like 
a powerful spring. When the ball went in 



POSITION PLAY 83 

play, he drove up and through his opponents, 
striking a powerful uppercutting jolt as he 
came. Bloomer was wonderfully quick, side- 
stepping as well as side-swiping with his 
hands. McEwen was exceedingly clever at 
guessing the point of attack and concen- 
trating his charge on the face and head of 
the opponent nearest it. And so on, almost 
without limit, the special stunts of famous 
players could be cited. 

There are, however, certain standard 
methods of leading. These methods are in a 
way as standard for line men as the methods 
of leading in boxing are for boxers. 

The defensive line man may take a low 
position inside his opponent and make a 
straight charge with one hand on the throat 
and the other on the face, thus moving the 
opponent by steering his head. Or he may, 
in charging, step to the outside, striking a 
blow on the side of the opponent's head. 
Should the line man elect to take a low posi- 
tion somewhat outside his opponent, he may 
then charge straight ahead, striking one 
hand to the head and the other to the body. 
Or in this case he may side-step to the in- 
side, charging with a blow to the inside of 
the head. An oblique charge in is bad. 



84 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

When the defensive line man is not pressed, 
his position becomes more erect. Taking the 
erect position inside or sHghtly outside his 
opponent, he may practice the leads outlined 
above. The erect position at times offers 
opportunities for using both hands in catching 
the neck of a very low opponent. 

The initial movement of the defensive line 
man with hand and leg is simultaneous. If 
the hands fail to clear the way for the legs, 
the player must be skilled in withdrawing 
his leg, stepping over or on his opponent, 
breaking through at all costs. 

Once through the line, the defeipisive player 
must be careful not to go too far. His effort 
is absolutely wasted if he slices through the 

o ° ° o 

o o o • o o o 

Freak formation: backfield scattered so as to get Strength fot 
passing. Runner exposed to defensive line. 

play without doing any damage. He should 
be trained to stop and spot the core of the 
play. He should then wade toward it, getting 
the runner if possible, taking all the inter- 
ference at least. By all means make it rough 
for the backs. 



POSITION PLAY Ss 

Against a standard-kick formation the 
defensive line should spread somewhat in 
order to give the tackles a clear shot at the 
back field. Driving straight through, they 
should knock the backs out of their path, 
drive through them, or step over them, and 
then make a desperate attempt to block the 
kicker by jumping in front of the path of the 
ball. 

OFFENSE 

On the offensive a line man should take a 
position with his feet well up under him. 
He should be crouched as low as possible, 
tail and weight away down, head up. One 
hand may touch the ground to balance with. 
The other arm should be bent, forearm and 
elbow in front of the body. In this crouched 
position there should be nothing exposed 
except knees and elbows. 

This point should be made about the posi- 
tion of line men who have their feet well up 
under them. After initial contact is made 
between the two lines of scrimmage, the line 
man who has his feet under him is in a far 
more powerful position than the one who, for 
mstance, has one foot or both well to the rear. 
The first is in the position of the fighter 



86 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

stepping into a clinch, the latter is out of 
balance and committed to a straight drive 
with his weight well in advance of its sup- 
ports. The one has positive forces under 
him, the other has not. 

There are several types of charge for the 
offensive line man. He may drive ahead 
with his shoulder, holding his forearms and 
elbows in front of his stomach. He may 
drive ahead with one elbow advanced and 
re-enforced by locked hands. Either of these 
methods may be used, either driving straight 
into the opponent or by dipping well under 
him. Should the defensive line man dive 
head-on under the play, the offensive line 
man must either walk on and over him or dip 
his leg under the dive before it gets to the 
ground. Once an offensive line man gets his 
knees under the shoulders of his opponent 
he can often walk him straight to the rear. 

The great rule for an offensive line man is 
this : He must either go forward or get out of 
the way. If he comes backward he is a de- 
fensive player and a most effective one. 
The back never lived who could gain ground 
when his line came backward. The converse 
is also true. Any back can gain when the 
line goes ahead. But when the lines are a 



POSITION PLAY 87 

stand-off, It then takes a combination of 
excellent line and back-field play to produce 
results. The first principle in this combina- 
tion is for the line man to give the back a 
chance by not obstructing his path. If the 
line man cannot go ahead, he must get out 
of the way. 

The offensive line, on passing and kicking, 
should block without charging until the pass 
or kick is made. Under no circumstances 
must they permit an opponent to get through 
them. 

It would be well for all line men to make 
themselves familiar with the following state- 
ment of line-play requirements and offensive 
and defensive stunts: 

First Requirement: Discover and accustom yourself 
to that offensive position which gives best results in 
stability, quick starting, and a lifting charge. Such a 
position must be one in which the legs are well drawn 
up under the body; the body itself square to the front 
and inclined upward, with the buttocks close to the 
groimd; weight resting on the toes, but balanced for- 
ward on a hand; and head up, with eyes open. 

Second Requirement: Develop fast starting and hard 
charging. You should be able to throw your entire 
weight at an opponent in such a manner that when you 
strike him your legs are collected well under you, pre- 
pared for further effort. Speed is one of the most valu- 
able habits in football^ but to acquire a fast start from 



88 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

the crouching position of the line man requires constant 
training of mind and muscles. Get the habit. 

Third Requirement: Practice using the hands and 
arms. You are allowed these on the defense in order 
to offset the natural advantages of the offense. Be 
sure that you take all that the rules provide. Use the 
hands and arms to keep away the opponent's body 
and for the purpose of shoving him right or left, up or 
down. It is not a game of tag. 

Fourth Requirement: Concentrate your mind on the 
subject at hand. There may be said to be three dis- 
tinct mental phases in the operations of a line man. 
Vision is centered correspondingly. 

On Offense: 

1. Getting the signal and deciding on the action 

required. 

2. Starting with the ball or signal and starting 

fast. 

3. After contact with opponent, a general co- 

operation in play of line. 
On Defense: 

1. Deciding on how you will go through. 

2. Starting with ball and starting fast. 

3. After striking opponent, forget him and go 

toward ball. You will shake off opponent 

unconsciously, but if you keep thinking of 

him you will stop and wrestle. Your object 

is to get to the ball. 

Fifth Requirement: Play your defense game from the 

standpoint of the opposing quarterback. For instance, 

if it is third down and they have ten yards to go, you 

are fairly safe in looking for an open play. Of course, 

you cannot neglect your usual territory, but you can 



POSITION PLAY 89 

play a little wider and attempt to cover more ground. 
Tighten up as they get near your goal line, and in their 
end of the field spread out. In other words, try to regu- 
late your game according to the attack you expect. 
Sixth Requirement: Try to outwit your opponent. 
Make him think you are going to do one thing and then 
do the other. Don't hit him the same way every time. 
If he once becomes bewildered he will spend his time 
watching you and will forget to move. Football has a 
psychology of its own. 

DEFENSIVE STUNTS 

1. Strike opponent in face or shoulder for purpose 

of shoving him back. 

2. Charge opponent in front or flank with elbows or 

forearms. (Heffelfinger and Hogan.) 

3. Strike opponent on side of head or neck with 

either hand, charging through gap thus made. 
(Weeks made this result in a blow.) 

4. Jvimp to side as ball is snapped and allow opponent 

to shoot by, helping him with your hands. 
(Bloomer.) 

5. Grab opponent by headgear, neck, or clothes, and 

pull him through to either side as you charge 
through gap. (McKay.) 

6. Slice through between opponents by turning side- 

ways, using hands to assist. 

7. Simply lift up opponent and throw him aside. 

(Can be used only against small man.) 

8. Ram opponent into groimd and vault over him. 

9. Charge low, hug opponent's leg, put your shoulder 

in his belly, and throw him back. 
Caution. — Under no circumstances allow yourself 



90 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

to be thrown back. You simply lead the opponent's 
attack when you move backward and you interfere 
with your own secondary line of defense. If thrown 
off your balance, throw yourself to ground and spill 
as many opponents as possible by the use of your own 
arms and legs. 

OFFENSIVE STUNTS 

1. Use of elbows, with hands close to body to increase 

width of shoulders. 

2. Use of knees in walking back a plunging opponent. 

3. Dip charge — dipping under opponent and throw- 

ing him aside with head. 
However, the best of all qualifications on offense is 
the fast charge which allows you to hit your man before 
he has started. 

GENERAL RULE ON KICKS AND PASSES 

Defensive: 

1. Go through, attempt to block kick or pass, and 

at least hurry kicker or passer. Then keep after 
the ball and get it if loose, otherwise put out 
as many opponents as possible. 

2. Use individual defensive stunts in eluding or 

knocking aside backs in attempt to block ball. 
Ofensive: 

1. Do not charge, but hold long enough to provide 

necessary protection to kicker or passer. The 
proper amount of time must be learned by 
experience and study. 

2. As soon as free, sprint down field, the line as a 

whole spreading out like a fan. 



POSITION PLAY 91 

The last word on the work of the forwards 
is this: If the battle belongs to the strong, 
it is theirs because they represent the power 
of the team. Intelligent application of power 
takes brains, and no line man can rest con- 
tent on physique alone. Football is a game 
of brains, and for its success it requires in 
the line of scrimmage not only power, but 
also mentality. 

CENTER POSITION 

There is little basic difference between 
successful center play and that of the other 
positions on the line. The center, however, 
both on offense and defense, has additional 
vital duties. On the offense he must pass, 
and on the defensive he is continually drop- 
ping out of the line of scrimmage to strengthen 
the protection against the pass, kick, or trick. 

Every play starts with the center. The 
line cannot get into position until he has ad- 
justed himself over the ball. He should take 
a square stance with his legs well apart. 
The guards and center should lock legs. 
Continual practice in adjusting the feet and 
weight is necessary to enable the three center 
men to lock legs and still obtain a low effec- 
tive charge. 



92 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

The paramount and vital duty of the 
center, the duty that comes before all others, 
is that of making a good accurate pass. Daily 
and painstaking drill is absolutely necessary. 
This drill can never be dispensed with. The 
older and more experienced the center is, the 
more he insists upon this daily drill. 

In general the center makes three passes: 
a very short lob to the quarterback, a travel- 
ing float to the No. 3 back, and a quick 
spiral shoot to the kicker. The time element 
is important in all the passes. The ball must 
travel as fast as is consistent with safety. 
Accuracy is absolutely vital. Speed and 
accuracy in the long pass to the kicker will 
often speed up the kick by one half a second. 
The pass is generally made with a flip of the 
arms, wrist, and hand for the short pass and 
with a sharp shoot for the long pass. In this 
latter pass the fingers grasp the lacings and 
give the spiral motion to the ball as it leaves 
the hand. If the center has a tendency to 
pass over the head of the kicker, he should 
practice depressing the long axis of the ball 
as he shoots it to the rear. 

It has been well said that the center is no 
better than his poorest pass and that one 
poor pass will lose a game. 



I 



POSITION PLAY 93 

On the defense the center should never 
leave his position in the Une unless the line 
is holding. The distance he may take to the 
rear varies directly with the chances of suc- 
cess of a plunge through the line. On third 
or fourth down with five or more yards to go, 
the center should always get out of the line. 

An especial effort should be made to drill 
the center on critical plays and positions. 
He may leave the line with impunity in one 
part of the field where it would be fatal to 
do so in another. If a center is wise, he can 
foresee the critical play and, by changing 
position at the last moment, he can ruin the 
attack. A good center shifting back and 
forth from line to back field and the reverse 
can worry a quarterback considerably. 

It is true of all line men, but particularly 
of the center, that they can never handle 
any two situations exactly the same. Foot- 
ball is not played by rule of thumb. It is a 
game of brains; success follows the player 
and the team that make the fewest mistakes. 

The Back Field 
requisites 
The general requirements of a good back 
are experience, rugged physique, and speed. 



94 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

Most important of these requirements is 
that of experience. Quite often we see Hne 
men developed in one season. This is never 
the case with a good back. A good back 
is a product of several years' experience. 
It is only through this experience that he 
learns to interpret and act instantly upon 
the chameleon-like changes of the football 
field. 

There are two types of backs which should 
be on every team. The first is the heavy, 
hard-running, line-plunging back; and the 
second is the light, fleet, dodging, open-field 
runner. Both of these types should be 
capable in the field of the other. 

Under the modern game it is also a neces- 
sity to have at least one back who can kick, 
run, and pass. With such a back the offense, 
from either the close or the open formation, 
holds a threat which compels the defense to 
keep well spread and on the watch for all 
variety of attack. 

UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES 

There are certain rules of back field play 
which may be classed as principles of play. 
They are as follows: 



i 



POSITION PLAY 95 

On the Ofense: 

1 . Never nm backward. 

2. Rim in climax. By this is meant, gather speed as 

you approach the line of scrimmage and hit 
the line with maximum momentum. 

3. Run collected. By this is meant that a back 

should nm with his chin and elbows tucked in 
and his weight well in hand, so that when 
necessary he can change direction. 

4. Be dainty with your feet. Don't fall down. By 

this is meant that the back should be trained 
in that co-ordination which enables him to 
step over or on a pile without tripping, and that 
he should be so skillful in the use of his feet 
that it will be very difficult to throw him down 
except by a fair tackle. 

5. On open-field play, lead out into the open, draw 

the defensive field, pick yoiir opportunity, and 
reverse it by cutting back through the defensive 
players. 

6. After passing the line of scrimmage, fix the ball 

imder one arm and use the other hand and arm 
on the defensive players. 

7. Speed is paramount. 
On the Defense: 

1. Talk to one another at all times, checking up on 

defensive territory and down and distance. 
Guess the quarterback. 

2. If the opponents are gaining ground, hit the play 

before it passes the line of scrimmage. 

3. Against a forward pass never let a receiver outside 

or by you. Play your territory as long as the 
receiver is in it. Cover the receiver in any 



96 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

territory in which he is uncovered. When the 
ball appears, play the ball. Crowd the receiver 
to obtain your rights. Jump when necessary. 
Do not catch the ball on fourth down unless 
you can make a long gain. Be ready for a 
quick pass played In sequence. 
4. Vary your position from the line according to the 
down and distance. 

Drills 

The foUov^ing drills should be carried out 
through the season: 

As soon as the backs arrive on the field 
they should spend about five minutes on 
individual drills. A quarterback should be 
required to pass the ball to the backs as 
they stand in front of a pile of sand bags one 
or tv70 high. The back should start, receive 
the ball, go over the pile either by stepping 
on it or over it, and then should practice 
nosing off, turning, side-stepping, or dodging. 
It is a good plan to put several backs on the 
other side of the pile and require them to try 
to steal the ball. With a group obstructing 
the back as he comes over the pile, he is also 
trained in using his eyes to pick out the open 
ground betv^een the players into whom he 
advances. 

After each back has executed the above 



POSITION PLAY 97 

drill once or twice, the backs should pair off 
and practice straight-arm work, reversing 
the field, and running down wide plays. 
After the completion of this they should be 
assenibled by fours, pair against pair, and 
practiced in knocking down forward passes. 
These individual drills should not be per- 
mitted to take over ten minutes at the most, 
but they should rarely be omitted. 

GROUP DRILLS 

The backs should then break up into two 
groups — the kicking and catching group and 
the forward-pass group. Where a back is 
both the passer and the kicker he should 
spend the appropriate time at each group 
drill. The operation of these groups has been 
explained elsewhere under ''Drill.*' Having 
completed the kicking and passing work, the 
backs should be assembled for offensive- 
defensive group work. In this drill two teams 
without the lines of scrimmage are assembled 
for dummy work. The attacking group prac- 
tices the particular plays necessary to ad- 
vance the ball to the goal Hne. The defensive 
group adjusts its defense accordingly. Crit- 
ical plays are made at full speed and the 
coach supervising the drill notifies the players 



98 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

on such drills whether to permit their com- 
pletion or not. This is necessary to avoid 
smash-ups. This particular group drill is 
very valuable in developing forward-pass 
defense, goal-line defense, and the execution 
of critical plays. It is obvious that all for- 
mations, plays, kicks, and tricks are executed 
and defended against in this drill. Following 
the individual and group drills teams should 
be assembled for dummy scrimmage. 

THE ATTACK 

A few general remarks should be made 
about the way a back should operate on the 
attack. When carrying the ball on an end 
run, a back should be careful to keep behind 
his interference and to carry the ball in the 
arm farthest removed from the, scrimmage 
line. He should turn inside or outside the 
end, depending on whether the end is turned 
out or in. 

On a wide slant the same rule applies. On 
both the end run and the wide slant, once the 
back has passed the Hne of scrimmage he 
should lead out into the open and watch for 
his chance to reverse the field. On the clos^ 
slant, the back should drive into the line, 
not with the idea of finding an opening, but 



POSITION PLAY 99 

with the intention of bucking the line. This 
play usually opens toward the center and 
the back must be ready to turn in toward 
the center the moment he sees open ground 
in that direction. On the close slant, as well 
as in all other plays, the back must be careful 
that he goes exactly where the play is called. 
On straight drives, most backs hit the line 
high, with the chin tucked in and the body 
collected. Above all, on these plays they 
must keep their feet. 

DEFENSE 

On the defense a back is not only required 
to apply the principles stated above, but he 
also should work incessantly at increasing his 
effectiveness against the kicking game. He 
should take the offensive end out by himself 
when possible, and from time to time he 
should encourage the loose center or even the 
end to join him in waylaying the offensive 
end. 

In conclusion, aside from the necessary 
experience, a back, to rise to high level, must 
have speed, fire, and drive. He should have 
all these requisites with enough intelligence 
to apply them effectively. 



b 



VI 

DRILL 

FEW coaches clearly realize the para- 
mount importance of a carefully planned 
and organized drill schedule. The secret of 
good performance at critical moments is 
found in drill. No soldier ever benefited 
more by intensive and carefully planned drill 
than does the football player. It is through 
drill, and drill only, that the coach can make 
reasonably sure of good performance under 
great pressure. 

The underlying principles of military drill 
and drill in football are the same. The 
striking analogy between war and football is 
once more made evident. Our Infantry 
Drill Regulations say that close-order drills 
are designed to inculcate that prompt and 
subconscious obedience which is essential to 
control, and that smartness and precision 
should be exacted in every detail. The same 
is true in football. Just as in war, we have 



I 



DRILL loi 

the analogy of extended-order drills, combat 
exercises, and field exercises, all of which it 
is best to follow by **a brief drill at at- 
tention in order to restore smartness and 
control/' 

Drill should be of the kind that will not 
sap the player's vitality and which will 
yield him as much fun as possible and con- 
sistent. It should be executed at top speed 
only at intervals. Complete co-ordination 
of the eye, mind, and muscle should be 
taught at slow speed, then somewhat faster; 
and finally at intervals the individual or 
group should test themselves out at full 
speed. Easy drills co-ordinating eye, mind, 
and muscle, covering all the phases of in- 
dividual, group, and team work, are the 
essential features of each day's practice. 

SCHEDULES 

A coach should lay out a general plan of 
development for his team which covers the 
entire season. The speed with which he de- 
velops his team depends upon the date of his 
most important game. Herewith is pre- 
sented an outline of a general plan of develop- 
ment for a team which plans to play its final 
game toward the end of November. 



102 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



• WEEKLY SCHEDULE 
Week Ending 



Knowledge in 
position play 



Precision and 
position play 



Speed and fight 
Spirit 



' Sept. 7th — Dope sheets and tryouts. 
Sept. 14th — Mechanics of offense and 

position play. 
Sept. 2 1st — Mechanics of defense and 

position play. 
Sept. 28th — Kicking game, forward- 
pass defense, forward pass, 
and position play. 
Oct. 5th — Generalship, forward pass, 

and position play. 
Oct. 1 2th — Forward pass, kick ad- 
vanced, precision in run- 
ning plays. 
Oct. 19th — Defense and rushing game 

advanced. 
Oct. 26th — Defense kick and forward 
. pass advanced. 

I Nov. 2d — Rushing game and drive. 
\ Nov. 7th — Rush, kick, pass, and drive. 
^ Nov. 1 6th — Special situations; pass, 
kick, rush, and three 
days' drive. 
Nov. 23d — Condition and polish. 
Nov. 30th — Condition and polish. 

It will be noted that this schedule provides 
for the assimilation of all the attack and 
defense in the first three weeks. The re- 
mainder of the season is devoted to raising 
the efficiency of the team by laying stress 
on individual or group excellence along 
various lines which, of course, differ with 
different teams. No effort should be made to 
adhere arbitrarily to any schedule. The 




FRANK A. HINKEY, END, YALE 



DRILL 103 

schedule should be changed as often as 
conditions demand. 

Similarly, a weekly schedule should be 
compiled at the beginning of each week. The 
governing feature in making up this schedule 
is the amount of scrimmage to be prescribed 
for the team. A tentative weekly schedule 
for midseason should read about as follows: 

Monday — No scrimmage. Light drills and dummy 
kicking scrimmage. 

Tuesday — Short scrimmage, followed by drills and 
dtimmy forward-pass scrimmage. 

Wednesday — Hard scrimmage. Rush, pass, and kick. 

Thin-sday — Short scrimmage and drill. Forward- 
pass dummy scrimmage. 

Friday — Short dummy kicking and catching scrim- 
mage. 

Saturday — Game. 

Each day, however, the coach should 
write out and publish a detailed schedule of 
work for the day. A typical example of such 
a schedule is as follows: 

Monday, September 26th 

2.30 P.M. — Jones, Brown, and Smith will report early 
to the coach in charge of forward passing for extra 
practice. 

3.00 P.M. — Everybody in blackboard room for crit- 
ique on Saturday's game. 



I04 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

3.30 P.M. — Everybody on field. Backs at south goal 
post, line at north goal post, ends in center of field. 

3.30-4.30 — Individual and group work under posi- 
tion coaches. 

4.30-4.40 — ^As teams practice signals for ten minutes. 

4.40-5.10— Dtimmy rushing and kicking scrimmage. 

5.10-5.30 — Specialists work at goal kicking, kick off, 
passing, etc. 

5.30 — Dummies, nm, and in. 

The above schedule merely blocks out the 
day's work in a general form. As a matter 
of application to a particular day and team, 
this statement of the day's work should be 
most detailed. All individual cases, for 
whom extra or special instruction or drill is 
desirable, should be mentioned. This daily 
schedule should be completed in time to 
furnish typewritten copies to each training 
table at luncheon. In this manner each 
player knows in advance the general or 
special layout of the day's work. It should 
be said here again that the coach must not 
hesitate to depart from the schedule when 
desirable. More often than not, it is best to 
take liberties with the schedule in the in- 
terests of working out a particular drill or 
sometimes even in the interests of harmony. 

The head coach, having allotted the field 
and the time to the position coaches, must, 



DRILL 105 

together with the position coaches, see to it 
that the necessary time and space are appor- 
tioned to the necessary drills. 

Basic Individual and Group Drills 

There are certain individual and group 
drills in football which are basic and in 
which all must excel. 

The basic individual drills are tackling and 
interference. These two fundamentals must 
be drilled daily at the tackling and inter- 
ference dummies, under the close supervision 
of a coach. The time required is not great, 
but it is essential that the drill should never 
be omitted. 

The basic group drills for the backs, ends, 
and center are kicking and catching, passing, 
center and quarterback, and the skeleton 
offensive-defensive group. 

The basic group drills for the line are the 
starting signal, offensive line work, and 
breaking through. 

The kicking and catching group should be 
carried on at the same time as the passing 
group. The kicker should be placed about 
ten yards from the side line and required to 
kick behind protection to the catchers. It 
is well to have unimportant players walk into 



io6 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



the interference, so that all the conditions of a 
game will be simulated. A stop watch should 
always be used and the time taken from the 

Organi^atioxi o! the 
Pield for Practice; 



Kicking 

and 
Catching 
Group 


Line Group 


End Group 


Passing Group 

or 

Offensive Defensive 

Skeleton Formation 



40 yd. Uoe 



moment the ball is put in play until it hits 
the kicker's foot. Very little coaching of 
kickers, or, for that matter, of catchers, should 
be done. A kicker or a catcher either can or 
cannot perform with reasonable efficiency. 
If he cannot, the coach had better get some 
one that can. At times some of the ends 



DRILL 107 

join this group and practice leaving the line 
of scrimmage with the ball and closing in on 
the catchers. The catchers drill not only on 
actually catching, but also on how to play 
muffs, bouncing balls, and doubtful catches. 
They also drill on how to get the leading 
down-field end. In particular they co-ordi- 
nate with one another in crying **Mine," 
''Yours,'^ or, ''I have it," etc. 

While the kicking and catching group is at 
work, the forward passer should be practicing 
throwing his different passes. He can keep 
a large group of receivers busy at this work, 
as the receiver often takes the ball on the 
dead run. Too much of this sprinting work, 
however, will soon overtrain a player. Here 
again the stop watch should be in constant 
attendance, and the passer should have simu- 
lated protection and opposition. It is often 
well to have a couple of defensive backs operat- 
ing with the ends or backs receiving the pass. 

Both of these groups should set aside^ every 
few days, a half hour in which to move about 
the field, practicing their kicks, catches, and 
passes in different field positions. In general, 
however, the kicker should practice on his 
own goal line, with his foot about ten yards 
from the side line. The passer should do 



io8 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

likewise in general practice on the opponent's 
twenty-five-yard line. Both of these posi- 
tions are obviously critical. 

After the completion of the work in the 
kicking and passing groups, all the backs and 
some of the centers should be assembled for 
offensive-defensive skeleton group work. The 
ends should join this group when it is not 
essential that they work with the line or by 
themselves. 

The offensive element of this skeleton 
group takes the ball at midfield and advances 
the ball by various plays to the goal line. 
The work is done either at a jog trot or at a 
walk. Critical plays, such as forward passes 
and drop kicks, are executed at top speed. 
It is desirable very often that the offensive 
element be directed from the quarterback 
position by the coach. He may then drill the 
offense on all the plays necessary, and at the 
same time watch for his opportunity to catch 
the defense off balance. 

It is apparent that as the offense drills in 
the execution of its attack, so the opposing 
defensive skeleton group is drilled in defense 
work. It is important that the defensive 
center be in this group. Of course, the offense 
and defense exchange places after a while. 



DRILL 109 

The skeleton group just outlined above is 
one of the most valuable group drills in 
football. 

There is, finally, a small basic group which 
must also drill together incessantly. This 
group is made up of the center and quarter- 
back. Only by constant practice and asso- 
ciation can the center and receiver become 
absolutely accurate in transmitting the ball 
to the backs. Indeed, so important has the 
work of the center become in modern foot- 
ball that it seems as though it would be best 
to separate the center for a drill by himself 
each day while the other individual and group 
work is going on. This drill of the center 
should cover all kinds of passing. 

It has been well said that all plays start 
with the center and that he is no better than 
his worst pass. It is a very interesting study 
to analyze the effect of bad passing on kicking 
or forward passing. It will be found that 
accurate and fairly swift passing is one of 
the vital ways of speeding up these critical 
performances. 

It will be noted in the discussion of these 
drills that it is assumed that a squad of about 
fifty — say four elevens — are available. Of 
course, the coach should direct the work of 



no AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

at least one group with the idea of developing 
the first-string men. 

The first basic group drill for the line is 
that of the starting signal. The offensive 
starting signal is primarily for the use of the 
line. Each day, or every other day, the line 
coach should have the various rush lines 
assembled in their proper positions and prac- 
tice starting by signal. Five minutes of 
this, every other day, will keep the line men 
in first-clas§ practice starting with the signal. 
Care must be taken to see that the center 
does not allow the line to beat the ball. 

The second important group drill for the 
line is that of offensive line work. In this 
group, the ends may or may not be present. 
Two lines are placed opposite each other, and 
while one line simulates breaking through, 
the other line practices its assignments on 
particular plays. 

The defensive line is the third basic-line 
group drill. The work is so hard that it is 
preferably taught with four lines operating. 
Two lines face each other and the defensive 
line actually breaks through when the ball is 
put in play. After doing this once or twice, 
it is best to have this group replaced by two 
other lines that perform for the edification of 



DRILL III 

themselves and the fir^t two lines that stand 
as spectators. 

In this offensive and defensive line work 
all the detail of position play should be 
thoroughly thrashed out. 

List of Drills 

The preceding basic group drills have 
been described sufficiently to bring out the 
point that they cover the basic and critical 
operations of a team. Teams that can per- 
form these operations well will probably play 
good football. 

It is necessary to realize that perfect drill 
does not in itself guarantee high excellence. 
The team work of the great teams in the his- 
tory of football was not based upon drill. 

The excellence of our greatest teams — in- 
deed, it might be said of all teams — arises from 
the excellence of the individual players. 
Teams are great and the team work is there 
because of this individual excellence. 

Therefore, too much importance cannot be 
attached to those drills which develop the 
individual. They are too numerous and too 
various to be gone into in this book, but a 
sufficient number will be outlined for each 
position to enable any coach to choose some 



112 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

or to devise others which may be applicable 
to his players. 

DRILLS FOR ENDS 

Offense 

Individual 

1. Sprinters' start. 

2. Short races. 

3. Long races. 

4. Position on line on offense. 

5. Interference dummy. 

6. Catching passes. 

7. Dodging. 

8. Holding ball. 

Group Work 

1. How to run down under kicks. 

(a) Last end of run. 

(b) Getting past a man trying to bloek. 

2. Running down under kicks with and without 

tackling. 

3. Boxing tackle. 

4. Working with tackle, and with tackle and half- 

back, in ways of disposing of defensive op- 
ponent. 

5. Forward passes. 

6. Special situations and field positions. 

Defense 

Individual 

1. Tackling dummy. 

2. Very easy live tackling. 



DRILL J13 

3. Falling on ball. Picking up ball. 

4. Stealing ball. 

Group Work 

1. Defense against end runs, open and close forma- 

tions. 

2. Defense against skin tackle. 

3. Defense against forward passes. 

4. How to block an end going down under kicks. 

5. How to block kicks. 

6. Special situations and field positions, 

DRILLS FOR LINE 

Shifting along line (offense), (which man to take). 

Shifting along line (where to be), (defense). 

Diagnosing plays (end runs, passes, line drives, 

splits). 

Going down on kicks. 

Dummies. 

Stance. 

Breaking through. (stance, use of hands, body charge). 

Plays once removed. 

Falling on ball. 

Light line tackling. 

Catching man in open field. 

Dodging. 

Sprints. 

Easy use of hands. 

Special situations (goal line, side line), (end through). 

Starting signal drill. 

Tackle and end (offense and defense). 

Blocking a kick. 

Critical situations. 
8 



114 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



DEFENSIVE DRILLS FOR TACKLES AND GUARDS 



Low position 
inside 



Low position 
outside 



Erect position 
inside 



Erect position 
outside 



Position 
Exercise (both 
erect and low) 



Straight charge — one hand to head, 

other on face. 
Side-step to outside — blow on side 

of head. 

Straight ahead — one hand on head, 

other on body. 
Side-step in — blow on inside of head. 
Oblique charge in — bad. 

Straight ahead — one hand to head, 
other on face. 

Side-step to outside — blow on out- 
side of head. 

Oblique charge out — blow on inside 
of head. 

Straight ahead — one hand on neck. 
Side-step in — ^blow on head or catch 

neck. 
Oblique in — bad — one hand on neck, 

other on body. 

Use hands each time. 
Stand inside — side-step out. 
Stand outside — side-step in. 
Feint one way and go other. 



OFFENSIVE DRILLS FOR TACKLES AND GUARDS 

1. Protecting the line of the play on an end run or 

wide slant. 

2. Turning opposing guard in on close slants. 

3. Wedging on straight drives. 



DRILL IIS 

4. Passing opponent along from point of wedge. 

5. Going through on secondary defense. 

6. Avoiding good defensive hand work. 

7. Against a plunging defense, use of legs, and step- 

ping on or over. 

8. Square stance and short steps. 

9. Blocking for kicks. 

DRILLS FOR CENTER 

1. Passing to quarterback, kicker, and No. 3 back. 

2. Starting signal drill. 

3. Co-operating in offensive and defensive line drills. 

4. Co-operating in defensive back-field drills. 

5. Forward-pass defense and kick defense. 

6. Critical offensive and defensive situations. 

DRILLS FOR BACKS 

Backs 

1. Fixing ball and starting. 

2. Picking up ball, going over pile, nosing off, turn- 

ing, side-stepping, dodging. 

3. Straight arm and defense, reversing field. 

4. Running down wide run. 

5. Coming up on line plays and wide plays. 

6. Spoiling forward pass. (This work is done in 

pairs, and in skeleton open and close forma- 
tions.) 

7. Short kick. 

8. Field positions, side lines, inside opponent's 

ten-yard line, inside own ten-yard line. 

9. Kicking, catching, kicking defense. 

10. Each particular play, defense. 



ii6 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

II. Each back, immediately upon coming on the 
field, will get a partner and practice for five 
minutes individual stunts as follows: over 
bags, nose off, turn off, dodge, side-step, 
straight arm, reverse field, run down wide 
plays, knock down forward pass. 

Quarterback 
As above and 

1. Working with center with ball and signals. 

2. Drilling on field positions, downs, and distance. 

3. Scoring play. 

4. Voice and bearing drill. 

The drills of the individual and group are 
followed by dummy scrimmage, which is ap- 
plied to all situations and phases of the game. 
It is important that a dummy kicking scrim- 
mage end the week. For those to whom the 
term ** dummy scrimmage'' is new, let it be 
explained that it refers to simulated play at 
reduced speed in which two teams engage. 
The defense is cautioned not to tackle and 
not to oppose violently. Critical plays, such 
as passes and kicks, should be played at full 
speed. In this case, the defense should be 
especially cautioned not to bump the offen- 
sive player. 

In conclusion, let it be said that the im- 
portance of carefully planned and skillfully 



DRILL 117 

organized drill cannot be overestimated. It 
is the secret of good performance. There is 
one caution, however, that should be given 
and that is : Do not drill the individuality or 
initiative out of your players. Drill should 
never be hidebound nor arbitrary. The 
player should at all times be encouraged to 
control the drill himself. The real stars of 
the game of football have generally been men 
who did drill themselves to the high degree of 
excellence they obtained. Under no circum- 
stances must either the drill itself or the drill- 
master dominate the player. On the con- 
trary, the player must be encouraged to con- 
trol the drill and to rise above the coach and 
the coaching. In this manner only is high 
individual excellence obtained. 



VII 

THE KICKING GAME 

A GOOD kick is an indispensable part of 
the offense. A mediocre kick, properly 
used, can do wonders. Even a poor punt 
skillfully used is a tremendous strength to 
either attack or defense. 

The writer is well aware that the basis of 
some football systems requires that the ball 
shall be kicked only as a last resort. The 
general theory of such an attack is that the 
opponents cannot win if they never get hold 
of the ball. Such a theory is all very well 
where one team has a very considerable ad- 
vantage over another. This condition does 
not exist when equal personnel and skillful 
coaching oppose each other. Under these 
latter conditions the history of the game of 
football shows that the rushing and passing 
attack comes to a standstill and the issue 
turns on the breaks in the game. These 
breaks are developed best through the skillful 
use of the kicking attack. 



THE KICKING GAME 119 

Moreover, the use of the kicking attack is 
one of the great offensive weapons, and a 
coach cannot afford to disregard it in the 
development of his team. The statistics of 
most big games which have been equally con- 
tested show that the contests hinge in many 
respects upon the skillful application of the 
kicking game. The statistics of Harvard- 
Yale games and Army-Navy games and most 
other equally contested big games show that 
the number of kicks in such contests will 
range from thirty to fifty by each opponent 
per game. 

The Kicker 

A kicker cannot be made. Many good 
kickers have been ruined by unnecessary and 
ill-advised coaching. Good kickers are gener- 
ally the result of continued practice through- 
out preparatory-school days. Each indi- 
vidual kicker has a form of his own, and 
any attempt to change his form generally 
results disastrously. As long as a kicker is 
giving good results it is best for a coach to 
confine himself to suggestions, which the 
player may or may not use, as he sees fit. 
When the kicker is not giving the desired 
results, it is generally best to point out where 



I20 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

he should show better results and then watch 
to see if the kicker can get the results himself. 
If this plan does not work, or even m the 
beginning, a skillful coach of kicking can 
point out the part of the kicking performance 
which the kicker might improve on. 

General Theory op the Kicking Game 
In theory, the kicking game is greatly 
strengthened by kicking from the center of 
the field toward the side lines, provided that 
the kicker is skillful enough to do so. The 

A Method of Blocking a Kick 

® 



> 




Halfback behind 
tackle and end. 



O 
X 



quarter should bring the ball to position in 
midfield, and the kicker should try to land 
the ball in the vicinity of the side line. The 
kicking team should then hold the opposmg 
attack close to the side line and compel ther 



THE KICKING GAME 121 

to kick from its vicinity. Thus the opposing 
kicker may kick out to the center of the field, 
thereby giving the catcher a good oppor- 
tunity for a free run in the open. What is 
worse, he may kick the ball outside well 
within the limit of his kick. Thus the kicking 
attack may advance down the field either by 
outkicking, run-backs, or by the breaks in 
the game. 

It must be understood that this statement 
of kicking from the center to the side is highly 
theoretical. The success of the kicking game 
is no way dependent upon it. A good kick 
straight ahead is quite sufficient for the suc- 
cessful prosecution of the kicking game. 
However, when a team is blessed with a 
highly efficient kicker, the application of this 
theory will help tremendously. 

One of the great rules of quarterback play 
is to press the kicking game. Play for and 
make the breaks. In a close contest, the 
kicking game leads to the breaks. A poor 
catcher in the back field, a slow kicker, a 
bad passer at center — any one of these weak- 
nesses or others may develop. Under hard 
smashing the opponents will crack and the 
opportunity for a score will appear. It is 
then that the rushing attack, the forward 



122 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

pass, and the scoring kick become effective. 
Work for the opporUmity and then make good 
is one of the great axioms of the game of 
footbalL 

Technique of Kicking 

The kicking performance may be divided 
into the following parts: receiving the ball, 
handling the ball, dropping the ball on to 
the foot, the swing of the leg, the manner of 
holding the foot, the steps preliminary to the 
swing. 

In receiving the ball, the kicker should 
stand not less than eight yards back for a 
quick performer and not more than twelve 
yards back for a slow performer. Ten yards 
back is about the usual distance. He should 
stand with his weight evenly on both feet, 
but ready to shift it quickly to the foot not 
used in the first step before kicking. His 
body should be square to the front. Many 
kickers extend both arms, hands, and fingers 
outstretched, ready to receive the ball. 

When the ball strikes the hands an im- 
portant part of the kicking performance is 
the quick manipulation of the ball in the 
hands to bring the lacings up and to extend 
the ball ready to drop it on the foot. A good 



THE KICKING GAME 123 

drill for this is obtained by tossing the ball a 
few inches into the air, quickly adjusting it 
the moment it strikes the hands, and then 
going through all the motions of kicking. 

Dropping the ball accurately on to the foot 
is the next vital step. By many kickers, the 
ball is best placed on the foot by balancing 
the ball on one hand while extended. It 
should come accurately on to the outside of 
the foot, lacings up, long axis either parallel to 
the long axis of the shoe or slightly turned 
in. The eye of the kicker should be kept con- 
stantly and vigilantly on the ball. More kicks 
are spoiled by failure to place the ball ac- 
curately on the foot than from any other 
cause. 

When the ball starts on the fly-back from 
center to the kicker, the kicker should start 
to prepare himself to kick. Many kickers 
are ruined by prescribing set steps for them 
to take. Kickers vary considerably in the 
steps they take before kicking. Some step 
back with their kicking foot, then forward 
with the off foot, and then kick. Some take 
two long steps forward and then kick. Some, 
with quick hitching steps straight up and 
down, kick from their tracks. 

The leg swing is best made at about an 



124 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

angle of from thirty to forty degrees to the 
side, although a few kickers kick straight to 
the front. The foot is held tense at the mo- 
ment of hitting the ball, with the toes de- 
pressed. It is important that the toes be 
kept depressed and the foot rigid. The kick 
should be firm and as powerful as possible 
without deranging its accuracy. The foot, 
when striking the ball, should pass under it 
in a slight arc, which will give the ball the 
spiral rotation. 

VITAL POINTS 

Several important points should be made 
about the coaching of a kicker and the kick 
itself. 

In the first place, the most important thing 
about the kicking performance is to get the 
ball off. It must not be blocked. This 
means that the kicker, when pressed, must 
be able to kick inside of two seconds by 
the stop watch. A kicker should be able 
to tell on each separate kick just how much 
his opponents are pressing him. The acme 
of good kicking is to kick at the last moment, 
thereby allowing the ends to get down the 
field. This is a dangerous proposition for all 
except the most experienced and should not 




THE KICKING GAME 125 

be coached. When a kicker is kicking slowly, 
the best thing for the coach to do is merely 
to say, ''Kick faster.'* When the kicker goes 
too far forward, the best thing for the coach 

Another Method of Blocking a Kick 

vt/ Short end inside: a 
dangerous expedient. 

o 
o oo^ooVNp 

XXX X XX 

® 

to do is to make a mark on the ground and 
tell the kicker to kick behind the mark. The 
manner of lacking faster or arranging not to 
go forward should be left to the kicker. He 
may be encouraged to experiment. Coaching 
that affects the kick in consistency or dis- 
tance should be stopped at once. 

END WORK 

The second element of the kicking game is 
the covering of the kick. This is the most 
important work of an end, and no end is 
available material if he is unable to cover 
kicks properly. An end should vary the po- 



126 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

sition from which he starts down the field. 
In general, he should start down far enough 
out so that he is sure to be on the outside of 
the opposing back field. At times he may- 
start down from in close— that is, from his 
regular position when on the attack. This, 
however, is dangerous. If skillful, he may- 
start down from just outside the defensive 
tackle. He should start wide and turn the 
catcher in at all costs. Making the tackle 
is, of course, more important than turning 
the back in. After his first ten yards down 
the field he should look for the ball, to see the 
side to which it is flying. While doing this 
he should be careful not to allow the defen- 
sive back to get hooked up with him. When 
going down the field, the same as on the de- 
fense, a good end has his hands and arms 
ready for immediate use for getting by the 
defensive back. 

An end should be careful not to overrun 
the opposing catcher. By this is meant, 
running full speed the full length of the 
kick and trying to negotiate and tackle 
the catcher without slowing up. A good 
end generally slows up as soon as he sees 
the catcher getting the ball. He then starts 
to make the tackle with his weight and speed 



THE KICKING GAME 127 

well in hand. Overrunning on the part of 
an end generally results from the kicker 
outkicking his ends — that is, kicking so far 
that the ends feel they must go full speed to 
keep up with the ball. It is a mistake on the 
part of the end to try to keep up with the 
ball by overrunning, but it is a far worse 
mistake for the kicker to indulge in low, 
long kicks that cannot be covered. The 
kicker should always kick to his ends, with 
the privilege of trying, at times, to sift 
in a long, low one over the heads of the 
back field. The kicker can, of course, pre- 
vent over-kicking by increasing the height 
of his kicks. 

RECEIVING THE KICK 

Good back-field work on the receiving end 
of the kick is essential. 

Catchers cannot be developed by coaching. 
A back can either catch or not. If not, he 
should be gotten rid of at once. It does not 
pay to coach a catcher very much. He 
should, however, have daily practice to keep 
himself in good shape. Most players catch 
by checking the momentum and steadying 
the ball with one hand. This hand guides 
the ball to the body, where it is pinned by 



128 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

both hands and arms. High kicks are the 
most difficult to catch. In this case, one 
hand should be kept under the ball. Most 
good catchers guide the ball with the hand 
that checks its flight to their chest, pinning 
it there with bdth hands. 

The second back-field man should back up 
on all bounces and on all kicks the catching 
of which appears doubtful. When he does 
not back up, he should hang well out to the 
flank of the first down-field opponent. He 
should smash into this opponent at about 
an angle of ninety degrees, crack him either 
in the head or in the body with as much 
momentum as he can gather with safety 
to himself. This method of taking out a 
down-field end will often scare an end for 
a whole game. 

SKELETON KICKING FORMATION 

The kicking group should operate every 
day. Service conditions should be simulated. 
The kicker should kick behind protection, 
and ends should go down on a catcher with- 
out tackling. Defensive halfbacks should 
be used from time to time. The opposing 
ends and tackles should be simulated. With- 
out trying to block the kick, they should 



THE KICKING GAME 129 

walk through on the protection, thereby 
reproducing all the elements of a game. 
Substitutes should be used in this work to 
simulate these conditions. 

It is absolutely vital that a stop watch be 
used to time the kicker during this drill. 
The kicker must always kick in less than 
two seconds from the time the ball goes in 
play. 

It is desirable from time to time to put 
the catchers under pressure by yelling at 
them as they receive the ball. 

On Fridays and Mondays a certain part 
of the dummy scrimmage should be devoted 
to the exchange of kicks. 

FAKE KICKING 

There is a principle in the use of the fake 
kick that the quarterback should under- 
stand thoroughly. When the kicker is 
pressed, the quarter should immediately 
drive a fake kick at the opponent who is 
hurrying the kicker. Both quarter and kicker 
should be on the watch to determine what 
opponent this is. There should not be many 
fake kicks. A few drives through the line, 
similar to those from the close formation, 
are sufficient. It will be found that the skill- 

9 



b 



I30 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

ful use of the fake kick will arrest opponents 
who are threatening the kick. 

DROP KICKING 

Drop kicking is a highly specialized per- 
formance. The kicker should rarely kick 
from his own break. He should secure the 
services of a center, and the coach should 
time each kick. The kicker, glancing at the 
goal, passes an imaginary plane through the 
center of the goal posts and his foot. He 
notes where the trace of this plane cuts the 
ground immediately in front of him. He 
receives the ball, adjusts it, and drops it 
along the line of this trace previously marked 
on the ground. Some drop kickers actually 
draw a line along the ground, marking the 
direction of the center of the goal posts. It 
is vital that the kicker be skillful in adjusting 
the ball before he drops it. Most drop kicks 
that fail are unsuccessful because the ball is 
improperly adjusted or carelessly dropped. 
Just as in punting, the kicker must always 
keep his eye on the ball when kicking. 

Conclusion 

The above outlines the machinery of the 
kicking game. It is simple, but its im- 



/ 



THE KICKING GAME 131 

portance cannot be overestimated. Played 
in combination with a good running attack, 
it should land the attacking team within 
striking distance at least two or three times 
in a game. The score can then be effected 
either by the rushing game, the drop kick, or 
the pass. 

Once again the attention of the reader is 
invited to the history of close contests. Such 
games will show that the running attack 
against an equal opponent fails until the op- 
ponent's condition or morale has been broken. 
If their endurance and determination remain 
good throughout the contest, scores are 
effected most readily by the kicking game. 
The history of close contests is offered in 
testimony of this fact. 



VIII 

THE FORWARD PASS AND ITS USE 

THE most interesting element of the attack 
in the modern game of football is the 
forward pass. The spectator enjoys this 
play more than any other. It gives the player 
and coach a splendid gamble with which to 
advance the play. Were it not for the for- 
ward pass, the game of football would be 
more or less of a mathematical proposition. 
With the forward pass, the element of chance 
and speculation is tremendously increased. 

Certain facts concerning the forward pass 
have been developed during the few years in 
which it has been authorized. In the first 
place, an offense which rests entirely on the 
forward pass is a failure. It is a proven fact 
that when the defense knows the pass is to 
be made (no matter what the distribution of 
the offense may be) the defense can fully 
defend against the pass. The best illustra- 
tion of this fact is found in the experiences 



THE FORWARD PASS 



133 



of the Canadian players when they came to 
certain American colleges for the purpose of 
illustrating the possibilities of passing under 



Forward Pass Areas 




0000 
XXX 



X 



X 



• GO 
X X 

X 





The successful execution of a pass depends upon the receiver 

arriving uncovered kt an open space. The open spaces in the 

normal defense are indicated above. Similar diagrams may be 

worked out for the defenses of any .opponent. 

the British game. These men were pro- 
fessionals and had developed passing to a 
point far beyond anything seen in the Ameri- 
can game. Nevertheless, the American de- 
fense was fully competent to handle their 
passing. It is said that the Canadian players 
completed pass after pass laterally and back- 
ward, but were unable to advance the play 
down the field by this method. Most 
coaches and players can, from their own 



134 



AMERICAN FOOTBALL 



experience, cite cases of teams unusually 
skillful in the pass which were unable to gain 
victories because the offense was limited to 
skillful passing alone. 

Indeed, it has been found that the forward 
pass cannot be used generally and with im- 
punity on all parts of the field against a 

The Attack by Passing 






A Downfield Pass 

strong defense. Given a strong defense, the 
chances are two to one against the success of 
the forward pass. It can be readily under- 
stood that the offense, in its own half of the 
field, is unwilling to take this chance of 
losing the ball. The forward pass, then, is 



THE FORWARD PASS 135 

reserved in general for use in the opponent's 
half of the field when the normal methods of 
attack have failed. It is, of course, necessary 
to foresee the failure of the attack and to 
make the pass before the defense have 
realized that the attack is stopped. 

We may say, then, that the forward pass is 
a very strong, critical play or gamble. In 

The Attack by Passings 




A FJat Pas$ 

general, it should never be thrown inside the 
attacking team's forty-yard line. Its use is 
confined to midfield and the territory of the 
opponents. It is an exceedingly strong 
gamble for a score. In the prescribed terri- 
tory, a strong forward-passing team may 
often mix the forward pass with the running 



136 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

attack in an exceedingly dangerous fashion. 
Most of us have seen defensive teams whose 
forwards have been demorahzed by the 
failure of the backs in defending against the 
pass. In this case, the running attack imme- 
diately begins to advance. Forwards must 
realize that their best method of defending 
against the pass is to crash through and hurry 
the passer. 

Principles of Passing 

There are certain principles in forward 
passing which have been established by 
experience : 

(a) The pass is thrown best by the No. 3 
back. It has been found that he has more 
time than any other player and that, due to 
his position, he can be used as a passer at 
any place where delay is gained by deception. 

(b) The pass should be a traveling lob, not 
a shoot. A shoot is far too difficult to handle 
or to throw with the required accuracy. 

(c) The ball should be thrown over the 
end or halfback. It should arrive and hang 
over his face when he looks up, floating or 
traveling through the air like a ripe plum 
ready to be picked. The receiver should 
catch with his hands as in baseball. The ball 



THE FORWARD PASS 137 

may be steadied and guided to the body 
when necessary, as in the case of catching a 
punt. 

{d) In general, the ball should lead out the 
receiver into an open space, so that the re- 
ceiver can take the ball on the run without 
materially slowing up. The receiving end of 
the attack generally goes down outside the 
defensive tackle, changes direction after 
passing the wing back, looks for the ball, 
keeps on running, at the proper time again 
looks for the ball, and finally receives it 
going with speed held in slight check. 

{e) The ball is thrown with the long axis 
parallel to the ground or slightly tilted up. 
In throwing, it is best to teach the passer 
not to grip the ball. 

(/) The effectiveness of the pass is greatly 
increased when it is thrown as a surprise on 
a quick lineup. 

FoRWARD-PASS PlAYS 

The following general types of forward- 
pass plays have been used more or less 
successfully : 

(a) The receiving end or back both going 
out wide to the open space or both going 
straight down field to the middle open space, 



138 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

or where there are two receivers on the same 
side, one going out and the other going down. 
The pass with two eHgibles against the same 
defensive wing back is exceedingly hard to 
defend against. 

(6) Passes in which the receiver cuts di- 
agonally across the defensive back field, 
taking the ball over the inside shoulder. 

(c) Passes in which receivers, as stated 
above, lead the defensive backs away from 
the territory, and then the real receiver, 
somewhat delayed, comes into that terri- 
tory, taking the ball after the defenders have 
been drawn away. 

(d) Some teams have developed certain 
special formations for the forward pass. 
These formations have been so constructed 
that a strong running attack behind a rush 
line is attempted, while at the same time a 
group of forward-pass receivers hang on or 
off the line of scrimmage well out to the 
flank. The running attack of such teams has 
generally failed, due to lack of concentration. 
Some other teams have practiced sending 
their entire rush line through and down field 
on forward passes with some success. Ordi- 
narily this method sacrifices the protection of 
the passer, which, in a close contest, is vital. 



THE FORWARD PASS 



139 



It may be said that any scheme of forward 
passing must be so conceived that the passes 
will be made from the normal close and open 

The Attack by Passing- 




A Crissfcross Pass 



formations. If this is not done, the basic 
element of the attack is sacrificed, and the 
defenders may loosen up and distribute 
themselves successfully against the pass. 

Decoys 

A vital element in the forward-pass play 
is the work of the players whose duty it is 
to decoy the defenders away from the re- 
ceiver. These men must be exceedingly keen 
about leading out at full speed in a manner 
exactly similar to that in which they would go 
if they were to receive the ball. In addition, 



I40 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

they must call for the ball by shouting or by 
such other outward manifestations as the 
situation may demand and as are calculated 
to mislead the defense. A coach cannot be 
too particular about training players in their 
work as decoys. 

Protection and Delay 

Protection and delay may be obtained 
either by the line and backs blocking fast all 
opponents charging the passer or by decep- 
tion. In the first method, the line and backs 
should block for the two seconds necessary 
to accomplish a forward pass from close 
formation. If the element of surprise is 
properly handled by the quarterback and the 
pass is thrown from a quick lineup, this delay 
and protection are readily obtained. More- 
over, in this case the receivers have no trouble 
passing the line of scrimmage and often 
pass the defending backs before the latter 
are alive to the situation. Protection and 
delay may also be obtained by deception. 
The good old-fashioned crisscross is an 
excellent method of obtaining a standard 
deception with a forward pass. A highly de- 
veloped forward-passing team may also 



THE FORWARD PASS 



141 



vSecure this delay and protection by finst 
making a lateral pass and then a forward 
pass. With delay secured by deception the 
offense is enabled to throw one of the most 
dangerous of the forward passes, the so-called 

The Attack by Passing 




A Delayed Diagonal 



delayed diagonal. In this case, the deception 
or lateral pass leads the defenders and the 
decoys to one flank, while the delayed re- 
ceiver slips well out and down on the other 
flank. The delayed pass is a long throw 
diagonally across the field to the receiver. It 
is an exceedingly effective forward pass. 



142 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

Passing from Open Formation 

It often happens that the offense has great 
difficulty in getting off its passes from the 
close formation. Quarterbacks should be 
trained to realize this situation and should 
throw their passes thereafter from the open 
formation. Although the defense is opened 
out against the pass when the offense is in 
open formation, nevertheless, a good back, 
threatening kick, pass, and run from the 
above formation, can at times consummate 
successfully the forward pass. Passing from 
the drop-kick formation is particularly dan- 
gerous to the defense when close to its goal. 

Drills 

There are two drills in connection with the 
forward pass which should be practiced 
throughout the season: 

(a) Passing. 

The passer, with receivers and substitutes, 
should assemble at the various critical posi- 
tions on the field and the passer should prac- 
tice throwing the ball on his different plays 
to the various receivers. It is imperative 
that a stop watch be used in this drill in 



THE FORWARD PASS 143 

order that the passer be required to throw 
within the required time Hmit of about one 
and three fourths seconds. In this drill the 
passer not only learns to throw, but also to 
vary the ball thrown for the particular 
receiver and play. 

(6) FoRWARD-PASS DEFENSE PlAY. 

This drill is practiced in skeleton formation 
without the rush Une. The attacking ele- 
ment varies the passes and rushes for the pur- 
pose of catching the defense off balance. 
The defense must be required to practice the 
following elements of forward-pass defense: 

1. Learn to be ready for the pass play to come in 

quick sequence. Don't be caught napping. 

2. The best safeguard is to guess when the quarter- 

back is going to throw it. Opponents stopped 
in the beginning of the game, third ot fourth 
down. Always a possibility that they will 
throw on first or second. 

3. Opponent's attack stopped, one end at least 

must be prepared to re-enforce the back field. 

Ends bone this. 
4i The center must be careful about getting out of 

defensive position. 
$. The line must hurry the pass. 
6. The defensive back field must never let a man 

outside or by. 



144 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

7. Play your territory as long as the receiver is in 

it. Cover the receiver in any territory in which 
he is uncovered. When the ball appears, play 
the ball. 

8. Crowd the receiver to get your rights. 

9. Sometimes it will be necessary to jump. 

10. Catch the ball if you can; beat it down, at least. 

11. Talk, talk, talk. 

12. If ball is sure to strike ground, don't catch it on 

fourth down unless you can make a long gain. 

The items on forward-pass defense given 
herewith, which refer to the Hne, should be 
the subject of drill under the line coach. 

Typical and Critical Situations 

From time to time, during dummy team 
work, the two teams should be taken to 
typical and critical positions on the field, and 
the forward-pass plays and defenses should 
be practiced. 

Conclusion 

Experience has shown that the vital ele- 
ment in the forward-pass game is the effi- 
ciency of the passer. The success of the for- 
ward pass is 90 per cent dependent upon the 
passer. A good forward passer can throw a 
ball which any fairly good receiver can 



THE FORWARD PASS 145 

handle. A good forward passer at times be- 
comes so efficient that it is extremely difficult 
for the very best defense to prevent him from 
accomplishing the pass. The essence of the 
forward pass is a high-class individual per- 
formance. It is extremely difficult to train 
a successful forward passer in one season. A 
coach and team are extremely fortunate that 
find among the players an accomplished 
passer. Such a man creates an effective and 
most dangerous weapon for the offense, 
10 



IX 

GENERALSHIP AND QUARTERBACK PLAY 

General Considerations 

CONDUCT of Quarterback: The quarter- 
back after every scrimmage should be 
the first man in position. The team should 
see him ready, alert, cheerful, and confident. 

By the way he carries himself, he can com- 
municate to the team the kind of game he 
wishes them to play. If he moves briskly and 
calls off his signals in a snappy manner, the 
team will immediately follow this lead. If 
he is deliberate and cautious, the team will 
respond likewise. The carriage of the 
quarterback, as the team approaches the 
goal line, is particularly important. He 
should then, by leading and example, inspire 
carefulness and determination. 

The play is often greatly affected by his 
manner of giving the signals. The quarter- 
back should practice changing the character 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 147 

of play by voice tones. This is very im- 
portant as the team approaches the goal. 

The quarterback is the field captain; he 
is the leader of the play and, therefore, 
should be an experienced player, if possible. 
The coach should not hesitate to take an 
experienced man from any position on the 
team and put him at quarterback, if it is 
practicable. It is not a good plan to have 
a man other than quarterback give the 
signals. 

The moment the ball is down, the center 
should be over it ready for the next play, 
with the quarterback behind him, always 
showing himself to the team as alive, sure of 
himself, aggressive. He must be skilled in 
making quick decisions. He must remember 
that, when there are two or three things that 
can be done, it is best to do one of them con- 
fidently and without a moment's delay, even 
though it be the second-best choice, rather 
than delay and shake the team's confidence 
in his judgment. 

Preliminary to the direction of the play in 
the games, the quarterback should know as 
far as possible the weight, age, and experience 
of every member of the opposing team. In 
fact, it is often a good plan to throw your 



148 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

spare plays at the youngest and most inex- 
perienced man on the opposing side. By 
careful study of the newspapers a quarter- 
back can often familiarize himself with many 
of the weaknesses of players and of teams. 
His knowledge concerning his own men and 
team should, of course, be infinitely greater. 
He should have his plays listed, and this 
list should be revised from time to time, 
eliminating from the top of the column the 
weaker plays. At the end of the year some 
quarterbacks have put on a small card a 
short list of powerful plays, combinations, 
and methods which they memorized beyond 
the point of overlooking, even in the struggle 
of a game. Some quarterbacks have carried 
such a card into games with them to consult 
when in the back field. 

Basic Principles in Choice of Plays 

There are certain basic principles in the 
choice of plays by a quarterback which, long 
experience has shown, a quarterback can vio- 
late only under the most exceptional circum- 
stances. All good generalship rests upon 
these basic principles. The work of any par- 
ticular quarterback who has been unusually 
successful will be found either consciously or 



I 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 149 

unconsciously to rest upon these principles. 
They are rarely violated with impunity. 

The first of these great principles is, An 
advance by rushing of more than 40 yards is 
rarely successful. Experience has shown that 
the great concentration and stress of the 
rushing attack can be maintained, without 
break, against strong opposition for a dis- 
tance of not more than 40 yards. This rule, 
of course, does not apply where the opponent 
is weak and the distance can be gained in two 
or three plays. The rule applies to an ad- 
vance through stout resistance, where the 
going is hard and rough. Experience has 
shown that if an attack against a defense of 
this nature is persisted in over a stretch of 
ground for more than 40 yards, fumbles will 
result, due to a break in the offense, or there 
will be a tie-up in the play, or the defense 
will have sized up the attack successfully. 
A quarterback adhering to this principle 
should plan to use his rushing attack over 
stretches of not more than 40 yards. It must 
be borne in mind, however, that this rule 
may be modified to a certain extent, where a 
long run or an unusual gain is sifted in during 
the rushing advance. 

The second great rule of generalship is, 



ISO AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

Never lose the hall on downs. The value of the 
ball to a football team is measured in yards 
by the distance the team is able to kick it. 
We may say that, in general, the ball is worth 
35 yards. It is apparent that if we surrender 
the ball on downs in any part of the field, we 
simply hand the defensive team 35 yards. 
No such policy can be pursued with success. 
It is vital that a quarterback realize the su- 
preme necessity of never failing to kick the 
ball forward when the attack is stopped. 

This rule is subject to a certain modifica- 
tion when the attack is close to the opponent's 
goal. Here the quarterback should either 
kick into the corner, shoot a drop kick for the 
goal, or play a scoring pass. All three of 
these methods are offensive moves, and the 
particular one to be chosen depends upon the 
distance the ball is from the opposing goal 
and the particular situation at the time. 

The third basic principle of generalship, 
which, in a way, is a corollary of the preceding 
two already stated, is. Press the kicking game. 
We know from a great many years' experi- 
ence in football that it is impossible to rush 
the ball over half the length of the field. 
We know through our experience with the 
modern game that it is impossible to pass the 



I 




FIELDING H. (" HURRY UP") YOST, 
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 



PERCY D. HAUGHTON, 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 



WALTER CAMP, "FATHER OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL" Unset Piclurc) 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 151 

ball up and down the field against a good de- 
fense. We know that the mixture of passing 
with rushing offers a good defense an excellent 
opportunity to deprive the offensive team of 
the ball in midfield or in the attacking team's 
territory. The only sound rule for advancing 
the ball down the field against an equal op- 
ponent is either to outkick the opponent or 
to gain more territory by a combinaton of 
rushing and kicking. If the defending team 
can kick as far as the offensive team, it is 
apparent that the superior yardage can be 
obtained by a certain amount of rushing — 
say twenty yards or so — ^followed by a good 
kick. If the offense can outkick the oppo- 
nents by reason of a better kicker or a favor- 
able wind, the proposition is, of course, ex- 
ceedingly simple. The problem is stated in 
one phrase — Press the kicking game. Many 
coaches are never satisfied with their material 
unless they can find among the players a 
first-class kicker. Such a player is a tre- 
mendous asset to any team because he really 
is the main feature of the attack. 

The fourth great principle of generalship 
is, Make and play J or the breaks. The 
problem of defeating a weaker team is simple. 
But the problem of defeating an equal or 



IS2 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

better team generally turns on the applica- 
tion of this rule, and this application, in turn, 
depends upon a particular team and situa- 
tion. For instance, a close stu4y of the op- 
ponent may show that its weakness lies in 
defending against the forward pass, or 
catching kicks, or defending the passer or 
kicker, or in a particularly poor player. In 
most of these instances the quarterback can 
guide the play, so as to take advantage of 
these weaknesses of the opponent. In other 
words, he should play to the opponent's weak- 
nesses. This is one of the great basic prin- 
ciples of generalship, which not only applies 
to the work of the quarterback on the field, 
but is a guiding rule for the coach in deter- 
mining matters of policy while developing 
the team for a particularly hard contest. 

Certain basic principles have been enunci- 
ated above. Herewith are stated certain 
general rules for the choice of particular 
plays in any contest. These rules and the 
basic principles already laid down have been 
the basis of most of the successful quarter- 
back play in the game of football. Long 
experience has shown that they can be vio- 
lated only with great peril to the perhaps 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 153 

reckless quarterback and the team under his 
command. It will pay all quarterbacks to 
study and meditate with great care con- 
cerning these principles and rules. 

1. No rule is absolute; break any rule in order to 

succeed. 

2. Never lose the ball on downs — that is, get its 

full value forward by kicking or by a scoring 
play. 

3. In your territory: 

(a) If outkicking opponents, go to position and 
kick. Press kicking game. Exception: at 
times, ball may be rushed to steady team or 
when in danger of kicking to fair catch. 

(6) If outkicked, hold the ball as long as possible, 
playing slowly and carefully for the period. 

4. In opponent's territory, hold ball as long as 

possible, ending with scoring play if possible. 

5. In general watch for: 

(i) Spreading in opponent's line. 

(2) Boxing the tackle. 

(3) Open space in back field. 

(4) Critical positions. 

6. Convinced that the game is an even break, take 

a chance outside your 40-yard line. 

7. Pake kick when kicker is hurried at dangerous 

opponent. 

8. Inside your 20-yard line do not hold on to ball 

too long. No wide runs, 

9. Take chances, provided there is nothing to lose. 



154 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

Quarterback Drills 

Only a very few coaches know how to train 
a quarterback. The following drills will prove 
an excellent guide for obtaining a standard 
performance from quarterbacks: 

(a) Voice and Bearing Drill. 

In this drill, a team or skeleton team is 
assembled either from substitutes or quarter- 
backs, and the quarterback candidates are 
required to call formations and signals. He 
should shift the team and change his field 
position slightly between each play. The 
coach, by example or by criticism, shows the 
quarterback the actual technique of assuming 
his position, the manner of giving his signals, 
and the method of switching his formations. 
The quarterback should be taught the para- 
mount importance of the use of his voice. 
He is like an officer in command of troops, 
and he must be able to get his command 
across in the proper manner. A good voice 
is an exceedingly desirable asset. In this 
drill, the quality of the voice tones should 
be brought out. A clever quarterback can 
produce determined concentrated play by 
inserting that quality into his voice. He 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 155 

can also produce fire and dash from certain 
matters of command. Unhappily, he can, 
by an unfortunate use of his voice, also bring 
about nervousness and start his men before 
the ball is in play. This drill may be prac- 
ticed with only three men — all quarterbacks. 
One candidate should play the quarterback 
position, the other two candidates playing 
the positions of center and halfback, re- 
spectively. 

(b) Field Positions. 

After the quarterback candidates have 
mastered the technique of handling the ball 
and have acquired the proper bearing and tone 
of voice, they should be given drills in field 
positions. The group outlined above should 
be moved from position to position on the 
field of play — the coach calling a hypothetical 
down and distance, the quarterback calling 
the formation and signal for the play. Dis- 
cussion of critical situations and positions is, 
of course, an exceedingly interesting part of 
this drill. The quarterback group should be 
taken to the following critical positions: 
(i) The ball two yards in front of either of 
his own goal posts. (2) The ball within a 
yard of the goal line and two yards from any 



156 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

tiorner. (3) The ball two yards from either 
vside line. (4) The ball six yards from either 
side line. (5) The ball on the opponent's 4- 
yard [line, etc. The coach, in each of 
these particular situations, calls the down and 
distance, and may, in addition, prescribe 
such other conditions as may make the situ- 
ation critical, as, for instance, the ball on the 
opponent's lo-yard line in front of the goal 
posts, third down, ten to go, five seconds to 
play, score 7 to 6 against you. 

(c) Watching for Spreads and Open 
Spaces. 

The third quarterback drill is handled as 
follows : Two complete teams, either first and 
second, or, if more convenient, third and 
fourth, are assembled. The quarterback is 
required to shift the formations back and 
forth, open and close them, and call the signal 
for the most advantageous play resulting 
from defensive players being out of position. 
The coach should require the defensive play- 
ers to take improper distances and intervals 
in order to develop the quarterback. For 
instance, a guard at times should leave an 
excessive gap between himself and the center 
or tackle, or a wing back should move up 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 157 

close to the rush Une. The quarterback 
should be required to call the answering play 
immediately. After the quarterback has de- 
veloped a few days under this training, he 
should be required, by shifting the formation 
and by close analysis of the defense, to pick 
flaws where he can find them. An experienced 
quarterback will rise a step higher and, in 
shifting or assuming a formation, call a par- 
ticular play and get it off with a surprise 
element added to it. This is particularly 
applicable to the forward pass. A good 
quarterback can line up his team and throw 
the pass often before the defense is ready 
for it. 

(d) Scoring. 

It has been said of quarterbacks that all 
that is required of them is to catch kicks and 
to score. They should have daily drill at 
both requirements. Scoring drill is handled 
by requiring the quarterback to take posi- 
tions in the opponent's territory while at 
either group or individual drill, and then to 
call the proper plays for scoring. The coach 
may call the down and distance. After the 
quarterback has developed, however, he will 
make his own decisions. Whenever he is 



is8 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

drilling in opponent's territory he should 
train the team in the execution of the critical 
plays upon which he proposes to rely for 
scoring. For instance, he may drill the at- 
tack in driving over for a score when on the 
opponent's 2 -yard line; or in making a 
scoring pass from drop-kick formation; or 
in making a wide run from drop-kick forma- 
tion when the drop kick is assumed to be too 
difficult. 

(e) Pencil-and-paper Work, 

Quarterbacks should be worked during the 
beginning of the year at night off the field 
of play with a blackboard or pencil and 
paper. The coach should draw a miniature 
field of play, locate the ball thereon, assume 
the down and distance, and require the 
quarterback to call the formation and signal. 
In this manner the quarterback can be 
trained in the idea of watching for spreads, 
open spaces, players out of position, etc. 

The above drills are not complicated 
nor do they require a great deal of time. 
They should be so handled that the drills will 
occupy only that period allotted to group 
work in the early part of the season. Con- 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 159 

siderable stress should be laid upon getting 
the quarterback in condition to handle his 
attack at the very beginning of the season. 

OVERCOACHING 

Great care should be exercised to avoid 
overcoaching. At every stage of the game 
the quarterback should be encouraged to 
make his own decisions. Everything possible 
should be done to develop his initiative and 
confidence. After the season is two or three 
weeks old the quarterback coach should 
retire to a position of friendly criticism and 
encouragement. In this manner only can 
the quarterback be trained in self-reliance 
and daring. 

Following is the general theory of the use 
of the various methods of attack: 

The Kicking Game 

The kicking game should be resorted to 
only when one's kicker is superior to that of 
the opponents. The ideal kick is to send the 
ball down the field and toward the side line, 
so that, when the opposing team lines up, its 
players will be ** boxed'' against the side 
line and be compelled to kick the ball to 
the center of the field or to resort to a long 



i6o AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

end run in that direction. The double ad- 
vantage of kicking the ball to the opponent's 
side line is obvious: the kicker has in all 
probability gained from 30 to 40 yards on 
his kick; the opposing kicker is obliged to 
kick and thereby lose the ball to the other 
side somewhere in the center of the field. 
Of course, if the opposing kicker can kick 
directly over the center and down the side 
line, he can thereby place the other team at a 
disadvantage on the side line. But, unless 
he is an unusually reliable kicker, he will 
kick toward the center of the field and run 
the risk of one of the opposing players running 
the ball back. 

However, the successful prosecution of the 
kicking game is not dependent upon this 
rather theoretical kicking from the center to 
the side and the reverse. On the contrary, 
generally all that can be expected of the 
kicker is to get off a good kick straight down 
field. A good kick straight ahead is quite 
sufficient. But where the kicker is unusually 
skillful he can often apply the above theo- 
retical rule with great success. 

When the team is kicking within 40 or 45 
yards of the opponent's goal, the kick should 
be directed outside at the 5 -yard or lo-yard 



QUARTERBACK PLAY i6i 

line, compelling the opponents to kick out to 
a fair catch. 

Should a team be kicking from behind its 
own goal line, it should kick into the side 
belt invariably, keeping the opposing team 
from a fair catch. 

On a very windy day it is often desirable 
to try an extremely high kick, even though 
a short one, in order to try the nerve of 
the opposing back field and to develop a 
muff. 

The quick kick is strong when there is a 
kicker capable of getting his distance in that 
manner. It quite often gets the ends and 
tackles down the field unblocked, and it has 
the element of surprise. 

In the last minutes of a half, high short 
kicks are a good means of trying for a fluke 
score. 

Just as the kicking game is played with the 
superior kicker, so the rushing game is played 
by a team of superior power. Though a team 
is better grounded in the finer points of the 
game, a more powerful opponent can often 
change the complexion of the game by re- 
fusing to kick the ball and by hammering the 
opposing team in all parts of the field. 

The rushing game consists in going for the 



i62 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

lo-yards' distance repeatedly. No rules can 
be given for the selection of the plays, because 
they vary with the team, the opponents, and 
the game. But the following underlying 
principle may be established: Given one 
weak point on the opposing line, there is, 
theoretically, the possibility of a steady ad- 
vance, since in order to strengthen that point 
some other point must be weakened. The 
quarterback, by watching the feet and the 
heads and shoulders of the opposing players, 
can tell what point has been weakened. 
Thus with one weak point there can be a 
kind of pendulum advance, first striking the 
weak point, and then, when that is re-en- 
forced, striking the point from which re- 
enforcement has been drawn. 

It should be noticed that in the rushing 
game the opposing line will play wide in the 
center of the field and close in as you ap- 
proach their goal line, so that advance may 
be made from tackle to tackle when between 
the 2 5 -yard lines, whereas within 25 yards 
of the goal line the quarterback must watch 
carefully for the closing in of the opposing 
line and hold himself ready to roll a play 
around the tackle rather than smash through 
the line. 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 163 

To test the rushing game, try the plays 
that have proved strongest in practice. If 
they go, save them for scoring distance. 

As you approach the score, stick to the 
plays that have been going; don't try new 
plays on the goal line. 

Do not allow yourself to play the entire 
game in the side belt ; it cuts off half of your 
plays. Either rush the ball outside and take 
it in 15 yards, or sacrifice a play for position 
and, by a long end run, take the ball into the 
center of the field. 

In general, you cannot carry the ball more 
than 40 yards. 

There is a combination of kicking and 
rushing which can be played against a team 
having a superior kicker. Theoretically, 
this is played by making up the distance 
lost, due to the failure of the kicking game, 
by superiority in the rushing game. The 
team, on receiving the ball from a kicker, 
must carry it back the distance gained by 
the opponents in kicking, and a little more, 
too. 

The combination game is the one ordinarily 
played, even when you have a superior 
kicker, because rushing the ball gives con- 



i64 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

fidence to your own team and teaches your 
opponents your power; while the kicking 
game, to a certain extent, gives your op- 
ponents a rest. It must be remembered that 
the ball cannot be carried by rushing more 
than 40 yards, except under exceptional con- 
ditions. When extended beyond 40 yards, 
the probability of a fumble is so great that 
it is exceedingly dangerous to persist in 
holding on to the ball. This rule may be 
violated in the very beginning of the game, 
when the opponents are off their feet; at 
the very end of the game, when either you or 
your opponents are trying desperately for a 
score; or on a windy day when scoring dis- 
tance is considerably increased. 

The forward pass, as an element in the 
attack, is used in combination with the 
kicking and rushing offense. The quarter- 
back, foreseeing that the rushing attack is 
stopped, may pass in any position outside 
his 40-yard line. Should he pass when well 
out from the opponent's goal, he should 
choose that character of pass which will not 
be intercepted. Should he pass close to the 
opponent's goal, he should attempt a scoring 
pass. The forward pass is an extremely 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 165 

strong, critical play, particularly for scoring. 
It is doubly strengthened when the element of 
surprise is present. A team that is unusually 
skillful in passing can often play a combina- 
tion rushing and passing game with great 
success. 

Technique of Handling the Ball 

The following statement of quarterback 
technique applies only where the ball passes 
through a quarterback playing up under the 
line: 

The first requisite of a play is that the ball 
shall be safely lodged in the hands of the 
runner. The play of the center and the 
quarterback is subordinate to this necessity. 
The quarterback and the center should study 
each other's play. The center should make 
any changes the quarterback desires, in 
order that the ball may be more safely or 
easily handled. The center's play is always 
subordinate to a safe pass to the quarterback. 
Putting out the opponent, making a hole, or 
any other detail of his play must not be con- 
sidered as important as passing the ball 
safely to the quarterback. 

In receiving the ball, the quarterback has, 
with his hands and arms and body, what may 



1 66 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

be called three cups. These cups are formed : 
first, by the hands; second, by the forearms; 
and third, by the arms and the body. The 
ball, when tossed by the center to the 
quarterback, will pass from the ground to the 
ground in a small arc. The long axis of the 
ball is always horizontal. The top of this arc 
is the point at which the ball is received by 
the hands of the quarterback. At this point 
the ball has neither an upward nor a down- 
ward motion. If the quarterback receives 
the ball before it reaches the top of its arc, 
the upward motion of the ball strikes the 
hands, producing what is known as fighting 
the ball — -that is, the ball rebounds from the 
hands. If the hands are moved forward 
while the ball is moving toward them, fighting 
the ball also results. It is one of the common 
causes of fumbles. Hard passing also causes 
rebounds. 

Should the hands be below the top of the 
arc, the quarterback loses valuable time, 
because he allows the ball to rise and then to 
begin to fall. The ball should be received 
at the top of the arc, and, if it is necessary 
to quicken the time, it should be done by 
making the arc smaller or by tending to re- 
ceive the ball while it is rising. The hands 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 167 

of the quarterback should not be thrust out 
to receive the ball at the last moment. They 
should always be in position at the top of the 
arc ready for the ball and a second or two 
before the ball is put in play. The hands 
are held like a small cup, palms up, fingers 
extended and wide apart, the little fingers 
adjacent and separated by about five or six 
inches. The palms of both hands are under 
the path of the flight of the balL The ball 
rises and the hands receive and draw it in. 

Receiving the ball in the second cup is 
brought about by the ball rolling over the 
hands into the forearms and touching the 
upper arm. When the first cup fails the 
second and third are rendered certain by 
closing in the elbows and knees. Should the 
first two cups fail and the ball roll between 
the arms, it should lodge in the pit of the 
stomach and be surrounded by both arms 
and thighs. A quarterback should always 
try to use the first cup, no matter what the 
conditions are. Sometimes it is impossible 
to handle a wet, muddy, and slimy ball 
with your hands alone. A quarterback will 
then find himself using the second and third 
cups. 

The general position of the quarter is as 



i68 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

follows: Pace the center, one foot advanced 
five or six inches beyond the other, knees bent 
as desired, body bent at the waist, hands and 
arms held well forward. This permits you to 
turn with equal facility to either side. The 
quarterback should, however, vary his feet 
with the play, putting forward either foot as 
desired. The only rule that he must never 
break is that which forbids his disclosing the 
play to the opposing team. He may work at 
times even with one knee on the ground. 

The quarterback, receiving the ball from 
the center, draws his hands back with the 
flight of the ball toward the side of the body 
to which he is to pass, fixes the ball in his 
hands for the pass, at the same time turning 
his body at the waist, turning his head, and 
turning his eyes on to the runner. He is, at 
the same time, adjusting his feet into any 
position he may consider desirable to facil- 
itate the pass. 

There are, in general, three passes: the 
pass for close plays from tackle to tackle, the 
pass for plays outside tackle, and the pass 
for end plays. The most important is the 
pass for plays from tackle to tackle. The 
essential that governs the play of the quarter- 
back on this pass is that he shall not interfere 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 169 

with the runner or the play. In order not to 
do so and at the same time make a safe and 
sure pass, he is obUged to swing up under the 
Une, keeping out of the path of the play. 
Otherwise, he will either strike the runner and 
throw him out of his path or, by getting 
slightly in his way, cause the runner to sheer 
off out of the path. As the runner ap- 
proaches, the quarterback must be able to 
place the ball in the runner's body and then 
withdraw, leaving the runner a free path. 

The pass for plays outside of tackle is a 
short, quick float, whereas for an end rtm the 
pass is made on the run to the back, after 
both are well started. In the latter case the 
pass is an easy float. 

When a play has failed, the quarterback 
should know exactly what caused it to fail. 
He should know which men were in their 
proper places, and which were not. Often it 
is impossible for a quarterback to watch this 
and go into a play at the same time. But 
there are quarterbacks who can do both. 
However, a quarterback should be compelled 
to give his first attention to the direction and 
supervision of the offense. 

A valuable exercise for the quarterback 
is to receive the ball from the center and 



170 AMERICAN FOOTBALL 

then swing up under the line, practicing 
passes. As the center passes the ball, he 
should move forward. During the first half 
of the year the center and quarter should 
do this daily, and they should return to this 
exercise whenever there is a tendency to 
fumble. 

The quarterback should know every back 
on the squad. He should make it a point to 
get some practice with all of them, and regu- 
lar practice with the regular backs. He 
should learn every detail of the pass desired 
by each back, and endeavor to conform to 
that as far as practicable. 

Backs often object greatly to the stand of 
the quarter, on the ground that his legs inter- 
fere with the view of the ball. The quarter 
must rectify this by continued practice with 
the individual backs. The fact that the back 
does not see the ball in any play is no excuse 
for any failure on his part. The back must 
know the quarterback and the center so well 
that he can tell when the ball goes in play, 
whether he sees it or not. Throughout the 
year quarterbacks and the other backs must 
practice constantly to perfect the passing 
and receiving. Of course, the position of the 
quarterback cannot be arbitrarily assigned 



QUARTERBACK PLAY 171 

for the benefit of the backs. Both must yield 
a little to the other's wishes. 

Conclusion 

The writer is well aware that many foot- 
ball teams use methods of play different 
from those he has outlined, but the history 
of success in football shows that the best 
teams have played largely in accordance with 
these methods. The most successful teams 
have been built along these lines. 

Whether the direct pass or the indirect 
pass is used is of no consequence in so far 
as the principles of generalship apply. In 
most cases success has followed the system 
of generalship outlined herewith. 



THE END 



34?7**^ 



-- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

020 273 965 9 




mm\ 



